Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Emergency Services Communications EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS The Hon. N. XENOPHON Legislative Council EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS In reply to the Hon. N. XENOPHON (25 July 2007). The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs): I advise that: The CFS has GPS technology in approximately 70 per cent of its vehicles, in the form of stand-alone GPS Units. There is, however, a clear difference between a stand-alone GPS unit and an Automatic Vehicle Locating (AVL) system. A stand-alone GPS Unit does not generally communicate electronically with any other device, either in the vehicle or remotely. An AVL device uses a GPS to relay information back to a central location via some form of electronic communication (either via radio or telephone). This information may then be used in systems such as Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) to remotely track vehicles and to respond the closest resource at that time. The CFS and SAFECOM are currently considering the operational requirements for and benefits of a SACAD compatible AVL system. This work is expected to be finished within 12 months. In the mean time, the GPS units already fitted in CFS vehicles will continue to be operational for many years.