Michigan plans multi-agency operations center

Macomb County in Michigan has unveiled its plans for a new integrated multi-agency operations and communications center. The new US$11 million center will combine: road department traffic operations; the County Sheriff’s dispatch and operations systems; an information technology data center; and the emergency management and communications department. It will be located at the current road department building in Mt. Clemens, with work on the 25,000ft2 center due to begin in October and an expected completion date of mid-2013. The center, which will accommodate more than 70 employees from various agencies, will have eight traffic monitoring stations, 24 dispatch stations, computer lab/training room facility and other rooms.

Funding is coming from a variety of sources, including the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the County’s capital improvement funds, the Sheriff’s office drug forfeiture fund, and federal grants. The county also will be applying for a US$2-million Economic Vitality Incentive Program grant from the state. Future funding will come from the budgets of the departments using the center.

Vicki Wolber, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said, “The center will share technology, reduce or eliminate redundancies and provide savings. For example, the sheriff’s office can utilize the road department’s traffic cameras during emergencies, while IT and emergency management will get a needed generator. During inclement weather, we won’t have to call the sheriff’s office dispatchers for information; they’ll be right downstairs. We will all be able to monitor traffic, weather radar and anything else we need on one, or all, of the 54 70in (1.7m) monitors that will create an 18 x 45ft (5.5 x 13.7m) video wall. I think this project is beyond my dreams and wildest expectations.”

3 August 2012