CAD is COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH. Long, long ago, call-takers would write the information about what was happening on a card: name, address, what was happening, and which unit should be dispatched. Of course, with technology, many companies have created CAD systems. These CAD systems are sold to an agency, so you do not know what CAD you will use at your new Comm Center. They all have similar features and allow for the information you gather to be entered, and decisions will be made. There will be training and practice on the CAD system.

Although these systems look very complex, they are basically the same information as the cards used years ago. In fact, in the event CAD goes down, the cards can still suffice along with mapping to handle calls and dispatch. It doesn't happen often, but agencies are always prepared. Now, with location identification, the call will dump information into the CAD, and the call taker will fill in certain 'fields' through questioning. See below certain windows for different areas of information but only ONE in the middle for typing in the information from the caller. Active calls, closed calls, maps, and radio channels can be seen. When seeing the system as one screen for entry, CAD doesn't look so daunting.