The Nashville Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) along with Vanderbilt University have secured a grant from the National Science Foundation to expand the capabilities of "Angie", an innovative AI-based Emergency Dispatch Call Simulator. This grant, as described in a Nashville government announcement, will bolster the training of emergency dispatchers by offering a platform for them to safely practice and improve their response to various emergency scenarios.
Angie provides a crucial bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, proposing to real-time test and engage emergency call handlers within simulations that mirror the unpredictable nature of real-life crises. The AI-driven program uses actual Nashville locations to challenge dispatchers, aiming to accurately replicate live situations. The NSF-funded project is the first of its kind since the Nashville Innovation Alliance was established in January 2024, an initiative meant to boost the region's innovation ecosystem.
Associate Professor Meiyi Ma from Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering spearheads the research for Angie, drawing on her expertise from the university's Institute for Software Integrated Systems. The $300,000 grant facilitates continued development of the simulator over the next two years.
Nashville's Mayor, Freddie O’Connell, highly commended the endeavor by stating, “This is one of the first successes of our newly-formed Nashville Innovation Alliance which seeks to foster and grow our innovation ecosystem. I am grateful to our Department of Emergency Communications for their relentless pursuit of excellence. They have consistently made progress on call and response outcomes, and this simulator will further enhance the progress they are making for Nashvillians,” as noted by the Nashville government announcement.
The fruitful partnership between the DEC and Vanderbilt University not only brings technological advancement to the fore of emergency services in Nashville but also pays tribute to Angela (Angie) Milliken, a respected public servant recognized for over 40 years of dedication to the city's 911 system.
