Firefighters from space

The Dublin Fire Brigade is using mobile communication technology originally developed for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to get crucial information about emergency situations while en route to accident scenes.

The system allows an emergency crew travelling to a fire to download the layout of the building, identifying where the hydrants are located and what chemicals may be inside and where.

Irish company Skytek adapted the so-called Advanced Procedure Executor (APEX) system, which was originally developed to assist astronauts in controlling and managing the ISS, for use by the Dublin Fire Brigade.

'This technology was originally developed for space missions where there is a need for control, methodology and procedures that are safe and accurate,'  said Dr Sarah Bourke, chief executive officer of Skytek.

To be used by firefighters, the system had to fulfil four requirements. First, emergency crews needed to be able to report online from the scene of an incident.