SubscribeAtlas OPS is the UK's leading software for Emergency Planning and Incident management. The software is designed for use by emergency services, category one responders, corporate clients and organisations with a responsibility to manage, respond and plan for 'any' type of incident or event.
This article provides a brief overview of how the United Kingdoms Ministry of Defence Police are utilising this system. The full article is printed in “Talk Through” the Ministry of Defence Police magazine.
March 2005: Ministry of Defence Police Officers from the Portsmouth Naval Base have become the first in the Force to train as Administrators and Operators for a software package called ‘Atlas OPS’
First officers from Portsmouth complete Atlas OPS training
The officers attended the seven-day course at the HQ of the software’s developer Atkins and Partners Ltd in Epworth, North Lincolnshire. The first five days concentrated on system administration tasks while the final two days developed their system operation skills.
Within the MDP, Atlas OPS will be a laptop-based system located at six key establishments nationwide: Including the Naval bases of Portsmouth, Devonport, Faslane – Force Headquarters and Whitehall.
Faslane – one of the key sites using Atlas OPS
Twelve officers will receive the seven day Administrators and Operations Course and will train additional operators at station level. The Portsmouth officers were chosen for the first course as it is planned to have Atlas OPS in place at Portsmouth for the Trafalgar 200 celebrations in June, July and October this year.
Trafalgar 200 Celebrations HMNB Portsmouth 2005
Atlas OPS will function in the Control Room at Portsmouth whenever it is required and will enhance the Control Rooms capabilities to respond and manage emergency situations.
Atlas OPS Administrators are able to populate the system with highly detailed maps, photographs, text documents and other relevant site data. These can be used to plan major events such as Royal Visits, demonstrations, public open days etc.
The system can also be populated to support standing operations procedures and contingency plans, so that it is ready for use whenever a major event takes place.
“Utilising the vast amount of information already in place on the Atlas OPS system, it provides great benefits as a highly dynamic and interactive training tool. The limits are only set by the operator’s imagination”.
Atlas OPS is suitable for both pre-planned and spontaneous events
When the planning is over and an event itself takes place, Atlas OPS offers a ‘real time’ operation and full audit log, whilst displaying an easy to understand visual overview of the entire operation. These can be used by the Event Commanders to visualise exactly where current resources are situated or incidents are located.
The new system offers a complete visual overview of the location, including all aspects of the emergency plan including:
- Emergency and evacuation routes
- Holding areas
- Rendezvous points
- Control Points
- Cordons
- Deployment of officers on the ground.
- Atlas OPS also stores and displays any previous planning and training material that has been saved, which can be recalled if required.
Highly detailed and professional maps showing all of the information mentioned above may be printed off and/or incorporated into the Operation Order for the event. Likewise, everything that happened during the event including actions and decisions can be viewed and interrogated for post operation briefings.
Although it will be held and administrated at station level, Atlas OPS will be under the control of MDPGA HQ and Divisional Commanders. These senior officers will, therefore, be able to deploy it when and wherever they see it being used to best advantage.
