The Redding Responder Study was initiated as a component of the Redding Incident

Management Enhancement (RIME) Program. The goals of the RIME program are to leverage

technology and communications deployments for emergency communication providers in the

RIME region by evaluating agency requirements, providing migration paths and improving

incident management. The RIME region consists of 19 counties in northern California, which

cover nearly 30% of the State’s area, approximately 25% of the State’s State Highway Lane

Miles, and less than 4% of the State’s population. RIME organizations include Caltrans District

2, Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation, Norcal EMS, California Department of

Forestry and Fire Protection, and other local and state agencies.

The Redding Responder Study was sponsored by the Caltrans’ Division of Research and

Innovation. The Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University was contracted to

conduct research and development comprising the study. Research and development was

conducted to address the needs of Caltrans District 2, based in Redding. While targeted

specifically at the needs of Caltrans District 2, consideration was given to prospective needs of

other RIME agencies and other Caltrans districts, including those in urban areas. Research and

development was conducted over a two-and-one-half year time period.

The premise behind the Redding Responder Study is that the collection and transmission of

digital photographs and other incident information will enhance incident management and help

to clear incidents more quickly. Secondary benefits include those associated with the

development and implementation of a systematic methodology for collecting and documenting

incidents for future analysis and training. The principal challenges include overcoming limited

communication capability in the RIME region and achieving a desired ease of use necessary to make such a system usable in the field. While off-the-shelf hardware and software products exist

to solve related problems, such products do not adequately address these principal challenges

without further integration and development.

Specific situations in which the product of this study would be used include rockslides,

landslides, mudslides, earthquakes, severe weather, and other events in which roadways would

be damaged or obstructed. Such events are common in District 2, particularly during the wet

months of fall, winter and spring. Use for traffic accidents and during wild land fires would also

be likely.

A Project Process Model was developed to incorporate aspects of the Systems Engineering

approach, as exemplified by the “Vee” Model and the Spiral Model for Development, which is

commonly used to minimize risk in the development of complex systems. The resulting process

model is consistent with the Caltrans’ Stages of Research Deployment. Specifically, a sequence

of prototypes was developed to refine the project concept, elicit requirements and feedback

throughout the project, and evaluate technologies and techniques for use. With each “iteration,”

Caltrans was presented with the next version of the product, and feedback was elicited to

determine necessary modifications and additional requirements. Feedback was documented and

incorporated into subsequent development.