Boston firefighters to be showered with building data

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http://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2015/07/boston_firefighters_to_be_showered_with_building_data

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Boston Fire Commissioner and Chief Joseph E. Finn

Boston firefighters to be showered with building data
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Jordan Graham

Hub firefighters will soon be armed with reams of intel about the burning buildings they are about to run inside, thanks to a new high-tech effort between the fire department and the city’s data analytics team.

“The more tools we can get in the hands of a firefighter, the more knowledge they have upon entering a fire, the better off we are,” said Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph E. Finn. “When you’re in that high-stakes environment, every second counts and every decision matters.”

Fire trucks will soon be outfitted with what the city calls “building intelligence” software that taps into records and data from other city departments, including Inspectional Services and Permitting. That will let firefighters know the building’s floor plan, whether it has sprinklers and potential hazards in the building.

Before entering a building, firefighters will also have access to information about whether the structure has a history of code violations, including illegal apartments. The information will also include exact locations of hydrants and standpipes.