Overview#
A dispatcher managing a multi-unit response to a structure fire needs to know which apparatus is genuinely closest with the right equipment, not which one was last logged as available on a status board. Real-time vehicle telemetry closes that gap: GPS position updates every few seconds, live engine diagnostics, and heading-toward-incident scoring give dispatchers an accurate picture of what is actually available and how quickly it can arrive.
Argus Vehicle Telemetry and Dispatch delivers real-time vehicle tracking and telemetry-enhanced dispatch recommendations through multi-vendor fleet management integrations. It connects to existing GPS and fleet systems agencies already run, overlays those positions on the dispatch workflow, and feeds live data into unit recommendation and ETA calculations so every dispatch decision is grounded in what the fleet is actually doing right now.
Open Standards#
- NMEA 0183 (v4.11): GPS position sentences ($GPGGA, $GPRMC, $GPGLL, $GPVTG) are parsed natively, with XOR checksum validation, to ingest real-time position and velocity data from GPS receivers fitted to fleet vehicles.
- ETSI TS 102 708: Position-Report PDUs from TETRA digital-radio networks are decoded directly, allowing AVL data from public-safety radio-equipped units to enter the telemetry pipeline without a separate gateway.
- SAE J2540 / J1939-71: CAN-bus frames carrying Parameter Group Numbers 65267 (Vehicle Position) and 65256 (Vehicle Direction and Speed) are parsed to extract position and motion data from on-board diagnostics ports on heavy vehicles.
- TAIP (Trimble ASCII Interface Protocol): RPV and RCP position reports wrapped in the standard >…< delimiters, including optional XOR checksum validation, are ingested from Trimble-compatible AVL transponders commonly fitted to emergency apparatus.
- OGC SensorThings API (OGC 15-078r6): Live AVL observations are published as SensorThings Things and Observations to a FROST-Server endpoint, enabling interoperability with any OGC-compliant geospatial consumer.
- GeoJSON (RFC 7946) with WGS-84 (EPSG:4326): All vehicle positions are stored and transmitted as WGS-84 decimal-degree coordinates, with geometry encoded in GeoJSON Point format; proximity queries use PostGIS GEOGRAPHY(POINT,4326) for geodetically accurate distance calculations.
- ISO 8601: All timestamps across position records, telemetry events, and audit entries are formatted as ISO 8601 UTC strings, ensuring unambiguous interchange with CAD systems and downstream consumers.
- GraphQL: The telemetry query and mutation surface, including nearest-unit search, provider configuration, and fault management, is exposed as a typed GraphQL schema, allowing clients to request exactly the telemetry fields required for each dispatch workflow.
Last Reviewed: 2026-02-04 Last Updated: 2026-04-14
Key Features#
- Real-time vehicle GPS tracking with sub-second position updates
- Multi-vendor telemetry adapters supporting diverse fleet hardware
- Dispatch optimisation with live telemetry data
- ETA calculation with real-time traffic integration
- Vehicle health monitoring with threshold alerting
- Heading-toward-incident scoring for accurate proximity assessment
- Shift handoff telemetry reports for resource continuity
Supported Integrations#
- Samsara fleet management
- Geotab GPS tracking
- Tyler New World CAD
- Zoll ePCR
- AngelTrack EMS
- Ten-8 mobile CAD
Standards Compliance#
The system supports compliance with NENA, APCO, NFPA, and state-specific regulatory requirements. Automated compliance checking validates operational procedures against current standards and generates documentation for accreditation reviews. Regular updates incorporate changes to national and state standards as they are published.
Audit Trail and Documentation#
Every system action, configuration change, and operational event is captured in a tamper-evident audit log. The audit trail supports internal quality reviews, external accreditation audits, and legal discovery requirements. Configurable retention policies ensure compliance with state and federal record-keeping mandates.
Role-Based Access Control#
Granular permission controls ensure personnel access only the functions and data appropriate to their role and authorization level. Administrative controls support separation of duties for sensitive operations. Access policies can be customised by position, shift, or operational assignment.
Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts#
Supervisors receive immediate notification of critical events, threshold violations, and operational anomalies through configurable alert channels. Dashboard views provide at-a-glance operational status across all monitored parameters. Historical trend analysis supports proactive identification of emerging issues before they affect operations.
Use Cases#
- Emergency dispatch centers requiring reliable, high-performance operations
- Multi-agency coordination during complex, multi-unit incidents
- Quality assurance and compliance monitoring programs
- Training and skill development for dispatch personnel
- Regional dispatch consolidation and shared services
- Accreditation preparation and ongoing compliance documentation
Integration#
- Samsara fleet management
- Geotab GPS tracking
- Tyler New World CAD
- AngelTrack EMS
- Ten-8 mobile CAD
- Radio and telephony systems for communications interoperability