Relution: Digital basis for Brandenburg's communication

In an emergency, every second counts. Whether for firefighting, technical assistance or rescue operations - quick and precise decisions are essential to save lives and protect property. A reliable IT infrastructure is essential for this.

Digitalization is also affecting the fire department

Modern software such as Relution makes operations more efficient, localizes hazards more precisely and optimally networks emergency services. Relevant data must be available in real time both on displays in the fire stations and in the networked emergency vehicles. A large number of state-of-the-art devices are centrally managed and constantly updated. The state fire departments in Brandenburg, which successfully uses Relution as a central digital platform, show how this challenging task is accomplished. The federal state of Brandenburg covers an area of more than 29,000 square kilometers and has a population of over 2.5 million. With 14 districts, 199 municipalities, 208 fire departments and 18 disaster control authorities, the organization of the emergency services is highly complex. More than 39,000 volunteer and full-time firefighters ensure the safety of citizens and look after over 5,000 emergency vehicles at around 2,000 locations.

The fire departments in Brandenburg are organized into five zones, each with a regional control centre. In the event of an emergency, they alert the relevant fire departments on site and also play a central role in digitalization. The goal: seamless networking of all emergency services with digital tools and tablets, accelerated information channels and a targeted focus on emergency response. This required an innovative solution that was efficient, flexible and secure at the same time.

THE MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM RELUTION AS A CENTRAL PLATFORM

To meet this challenge, the fire departments in Brandenburg rely on the Relution mobile device management system (MDM). The platform is used to centrally manage 1,800 iPads that are used throughout the state. Stationary computers with different operating systems are also to be integrated in the future. Preparations for the rollout are in full swing, with a particular focus on data security: test devices are undergoing extensive checks to eliminate potential sources of error, hurdles or malfunctions at an early stage. Functions such as access control via password and device loss, app distribution and management are being intensively tested in order to protect sensitive data in a security-critical environment, reduce the workload of the emergency services and minimize support costs.

DEVICE MANAGEMENT THROUGH MULTI-CLIENT CAPABILITY

Relution enables fire departments to manage the five regional control centers on a central instance. Web links, background images or apps such as the CommandX incident command app, the “Brandenburger Alarm” alarm app and messenger tools or hazardous substance databases can be configured centrally in the global organization and rolled out to all devices. Changes or restrictions are made flexibly in real time. “Relution helps us enormously to provide fully configured devices that are ready for immediate use. This saves us a lot of work,” emphasizes Gordon Bennewitz, system technician at the professional fire department in the Lausitz control centre.

INDIVIDUAL USE: PERMANENTLY INSTALLED OR FLEXIBLY SHARED

The iPads can be used flexibly: they can be permanently installed in vehicles or used individually or in shared iPad mode. This means they can be quickly made available for special tasks such as disaster situations or training. “The tablet is the smallest digital unit for fire department vehicles and managers. It ensures smooth communication and quick access to relevant information,” explains Mario Müller, IT and communications team leader at the Lusatia regional office and the Cottbus professional fire department.

SECURITY, TRANSPARENCY AND USER-FRIENDLINESS

According to the BSI baseline protection compendium, MDM (Mobile Device Management) is mandatory for authorities that manage sensitive data. The fire departments in Brandenburg opted for Relution because of its multi-client capability, intuitive operation and platform-independent use. “Relution is more transparent and flexible than our previous solution. The policy management and platform independence in particular make the difference for us,” says Bennewitz.

THE PATH TO DIGITALIZATION: TRAINING AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING

The introduction of modern technology also requires a cultural change. In order to get everyone involved, multipliers will conduct training courses on site. “Digitalization and the use of Relution won't work without training and education. Creating acceptance is essential for digitalization,” explains Müller.

A LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT WITH RADIANT POWER

The fire departments in Brandenburg are impressively demonstrating how the cross-area use of Relution is driving digital transformation in safety-critical areas. The combination of centralized device management, user-friendly operation and flexible use makes the project a unique showcase model in Germany.

Figures, data, facts

208 fire departments for fire protection and technical assistance**
18 lower disaster control authorities
39,000 firefighters
2,000 station locations
5,000 emergency vehicles
19 rescue services for emergency rescue, patient transportation and tele-emergency doctor
3,000 employees
193 rescue stations
500 emergency vehicles
6 rescue helicopters.

Digital coordination at the state fire departments in Brandenburg - with Relution