Commissioning of ILS Augsburg
The ILS Augsburg is embarking on a promising new chapter at the historic Glaspalast Augsburg. This move will create the necessary space to accommodate the rising number of emergency calls and operations. At the same time, the modernization of technology will ensure that help continues to be provided quickly and reliably in the future.
The Glaspalast, with its striking glass architecture and airy interiors, beautifully fuses tradition with modernity. Once a hub of industrial innovation, this extraordinary building has been thoughtfully renovated to accommodate a diverse array of companies, start-ups, and creative offices, fostering a lively and inspiring atmosphere. With its spacious layouts and cutting-edge technical amenities, the Glaspalast provides an ideal setting that perfectly meets the needs of the ILS.
Stefan Würz, head of the ILS Augsburg, gave us insights into the background and goals of the upcoming move in an interview:
Mr. Würz, since 2008, you’ve been at the helm of the Office for Fire and Disaster Protection at Fire Station 1 on Berliner Straße. What prompted the exciting transition to the new building?
One reason was the size of the premises but other factors contributed as well. First, since 2008, the volume of operations has surged dramatically—emergency rescues alone have risen by around 50%. Our catchment area’s population has expanded by approximately 90,000, bringing the total to 940,000 residents. This population boom naturally correlates with the spike in operational demand, necessitating a larger workforce. Additionally, we’ve taken on new responsibilities, including TETRA digital radio, IT security, and a significant push toward digitization in operational management. All of these advancements require more personnel and, consequently, more space to function effectively.
Since when have the planning and preparations been underway?
In line with the directives of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior (BayStMI), the hardware components in our integrated control centers must undergo regular updates to meet evolving technical standards and ensure optimal performance. This significant hardware overhaul is accompanied by our exciting transition to new premises. Planning and preparations for the move to the Glaspalast have been in full swing since 2022, with seamless collaboration between us—the client—the building‘s landlord, the specialist planning office, and notably, our technology partner, eurofunk Kappacher GmbH. The success of this ambitious project hinges on the intensive cooperation among all stakeholders. From the outset, we engaged in workshops, face-to-face discussions, thorough reviews of planning documents, and joint site inspections to ensure every detail is meticulously executed.
How are the new premises in the Glaspalast designed, and how many workstations are there?
In addition to the technical facilities, the Glaspalast also houses the administration offices as well as training, social, and rest rooms. In total, we have about 1,400 m² of space available. The heart of the control center is the 350 m² operations room. There, a total of 16 dispatch workstations (ELP) and two decentralized workstations (AAP) are provided for handling approximately 105,000 emergency rescue operations, 13,000 fire brigade operations, and around 60,000 patient transports annually. In addition, there is one dispatch workstation and six decentralized workstations (AAP) at Fire Station 1 of the professional fire brigade, which we can additionally staff in special situations to handle the increased number of emergency calls. These are connected to the Glaspalast via a so-called dark fiber-connection.
What does the technical equipment of the new ILS look like, and in which areas are there technical advances?
With our move to the new premises, we’re making some important upgrades. Our new IT infrastructure, based on virtualized servers, will enhance performance, availability, and fail-safety, ensuring that the ILS can effectively handle its responsibilities even in challenging situations. We’re also updating our central communication system, fully transitioning to IP technology (IDDS UCiP).
The new telephone system is designed with redundancy, supporting both administrative calls and serving as a backup for emergency call handling. Additionally, the emc2 radio control system provides another reliable option (NE2) on the latest hardware. Operations will now utilize modern notebooks with touch screens for better efficiency. Finally, our media technology has been redesigned, featuring six large screens that display mission-relevant information for dispatchers.
In the event of a large-scale power outage, we are provided with two independent UPS systems, and a feed-in for an emergency power system (NEA) has been installed. This allows us to maintain the operation of the ILS until public supply is restored.
Last but not least, modern room and climate technology will contribute significantly to improving our working environment. The new eurofunk eDESKc control center desks are designed, among other things, to effectively reduce noise levels, thus contributing to a pleasant working atmosphere.
Herr Würz, vielen Dank für die aufschlussreichen Einblicke. Wir wünschen weiterhin viel Erfolg bei der Umsetzung des Umzugs.
