Conor Jordan of Institute of Technology Carlow has worked with Aiden Owens of Carlow Fire and Rescue Service to develop a software tool which improves pre-incident planning and emergency management methods. 
 
With finance from the Irish Research Council and Carlow County Council, Carlow Fire and Rescue Service and Conor developed an idea to use BIM (Building Information Modelling) to improve an Incident Commanders situational awareness of a high-risk emergency scene. 
 
“BIM is a process for creating and managing information on a construction project,” says Conor. “One of the key outputs of this process is the digital description of every aspect of the built asset. This model draws on information assembled collaboratively and updated at key stages. Creating a digital BIM enables those who interact with the building to optimize their actions, resulting in a greater whole life value for the asset.

“If the BIM-based software tool proves to be effective and is integrated into the fire services of Ireland and the UK in the future, it has the potential to produce a superior pre-incident planning and emergency management method and can also help increase the digital data accuracy and regulatory compliance of the building.”