Command: Board Section

Command: Board Section

Purpose Statement

  1. The command board section serves as the primary operational interface for incident management, providing comprehensive control over command staff positioning, unit assignments, and tactical operations. This central workspace enables incident commanders to coordinate resources, track assignment progress, conduct personnel accountability reports (PAR), and maintain real-time situational awareness throughout emergency response operations.

Background Information

  1. The command board is organized into three distinct operational areas:
    1. Command staff positions
    2. Unassigned units
    3. Tactical assignments.
  2. This structure follows Incident Command System (ICS) principles and provides intuitive drag-and-drop functionality for resource management. The board supports both pre-configured templates and dynamic customization, allowing commanders to adapt the interface to specific incident needs. All board actions are automatically logged, creating a comprehensive record of command decisions and resource deployments.

Required Permissions

Users must have the appropriate level of the Incident Commands permission configured in their role:

  • Read: View command boards in read-only mode
  • Update: Modify command board settings and information
  • Create: Initiate new command boards and add custom items
  • Delete: Remove command board elements and complete incidents

Additional permissions may be required for specific functions like messaging and roster access based on integrated modules.

Video 


Step by Step Guide

1. The Board Section is split into 3 areas:
  1. Command Staff
  2. Unassigned Units
  3. Assignments






2. The Command Staff Section is configured in Command Setup. Units can be placed in the positions in the Command Staff area but positions cannot be edited or added.







3. The Unassigned Units section shows all units that are dispatched to your incident including additional alarms and upgrades. Units can be dragged and dropped into command staff positions or assignments.






4.  The following options are available in the Unassigned Units area:
  1. 4A.  Additional Units can be added by selecting the + Unassigned Units Button
  2. 4B.  Users can search for Units within the Unassigned Units Area
  3. 4C.  Each Unit Unassigned Unit has the follow options available in the Stacked Menu
    1. Edit Unit (change name or switch to another unit)
    2. Clear Unit (only clears unit from the Command Board not the incident)
    3. Duplicate Unit
    4. Add Notes to that specific Unit







5. In the Assignments area the assignments are arranged as configured in the specific Template within Command Setup. The assignments can be rearranged into any order. The Assignments Ratio displays the ratio between the total number Completed Assignments and the number Assignments that are assigned to the Command Board. (Completed/Total Assignments)







6.  Each Assignment has a unique timer that can have a set threshold which is designated in Command Setup.

7. The Assignment Timer will begin counting when a Unit is placed into the Assignment. A Unit timer will also start on the Unit to show how long it has been assigned within the Assignment. These timers are independent of each other. The Unit Timer only reflects how long the Unit has been assigned within the assignment.






8. Assignment Timers have visual cues that depend on the way the Assignments were created in Command Setup.
8A. If a Assignment Timer has a threshold time, when the timer reaches 1 minute prior to the Threshold time, the timer will be highlighted in YELLOW.
8B.  If a Assignment Timer has a threshold time, when the timer reaches the Threshold time, the timer will be highlighted in RED.  The timer will continue to count until the assignment is marked complete or deleted.
8C.  All Timers will be highlighted in Grey if the Timer has does has not hit the criteria noted above or if the Assignment does not have a set threshold time.
8D.  Assignment Timers can be reset using the reset button.







9. When a Unit is placed in an assignment, a new menu item becomes available--Make Lead.  This allows the Unit to be designated as the Lead Unit within that assignment by displaying a blue banner across the top of the unit. Only one unit a time can be marked the lead within the assignment.






10.  Each assignment has a menu that can be accessed by the stacked icons that includes:
  1. Edit 
  2. Delete 
  3. Complete  (any units within the assignment will be returned to the Unassigned Units Area)
  4. Log History (Takes user to the Log Section and filters the entries to that specific assignment)
  5. Duplicate
  6. Add Notes (attached to that assignment)






11.  Add Assignment--Additional assignments can be added from an established list or custom assignments can be created.






12.  Complete All--Will mark all Assignments completed. Any Units within the individual assignments will be returned to the Unassigned Units Section






13.  The PAR timer is displayed in the center of the Board section and is set in Command Setup. The following features apply to the PAR Timer:
11A.  Current elapsed PAR Time
11B.  Reset PAR Timer
11C.  PAR Check






12.  When PAR Timer reaches 1 minute before PAR Time threshold the timer will Turn YELLOW.






13. When the PAR Timer reaches the PAR Time Threshold, the timer will turn RED and stop & remain RED until the timer is reset.





14. To conduct a PAR Check select the PAR Check (Shield) icon. This will dim the Command Board into a Read Only State except for the Units that are within an Assignment. Units within the Command Staff or within Unassigned Units can not be included in the PAR Check.  Units can now be marked as having PAR (GREEN) on the first click or Not Having PAR (RED) on the second click. The third clock will return the unit to default (YELLOW).






15.  The PAR Check can be paused to allow for edits or changes on the command board and then resumed by selecting the shield icon again. The PAR Check will start from where the last PAR Check was paused.






16. Users can mark all Units as having PAR with the All Units PAR or the PAR can be marked Incomplete. Units will be marked accordingly within the Log Section.





17.  Once a PAR in completed, the PAR timer will restart.




Best Practices

Do:

  • Use clear, consistent naming conventions for custom units and assignments
  • Designate lead units for assignments to improve map visibility
  • Monitor assignment timers and address threshold warnings promptly
  • Conduct regular PAR checks based on department protocols
  • Utilize notes function for important unit and assignment information

Don't:

  • Delete assignments unnecessarily during active operations
  • Ignore timer warnings and threshold alerts
  • Conduct PAR checks during critical tactical operations
  • Create duplicate assignments for the same tactical function
  • Clear units from the board without proper justification

Tips:

  • Arrange assignment fields in logical operational order
  • Use unit duplication feature for crew splitting scenarios
  • Leverage assignment notes for tactical progress updates
  • Pause PAR operations when immediate command decisions needed
  • Reset PAR timer proactively during extended operations

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: I can't rearrange the command staff positions. Why?
A: Command staff position order is set in the template configuration and cannot be modified on the active command board.

Q: What's the difference between clearing a unit and deleting an assignment?
A: Clearing a unit removes it from the command board but keeps it on the dispatch call. Deleting an assignment removes the assignment from the command board and returns all assigned units to the Unassigned Units Section of the Command Board.

Q: Why do unit timers show different times in the same assignment?
A: Unit timers track individual time within their current assignment, not total unit time. Units added to an assignment later will show less time.

Q: Can I conduct a PAR check on unassigned units?
A: No, PAR checks only include units that are assigned to tactical assignments. Unassigned units and command staff are excluded.

Q: What happens if I pause a PAR check?
A: Pausing returns the board to normal editing mode. You can make changes and resume the PAR where you left off. All pauses are logged.

Q: How do I know if a unit is designated as the lead?
A: Lead units display a blue banner and appear in assignment dropdowns on the map section.

Q: Can I reset assignment timers without completing the assignment?
A: Yes, each assignment has a reset timer button that restarts the timer without marking the assignment complete.

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