A CAD System is a __.

• A. Computer-aided design system
• B. Centralized alarm data system
• C. Computer aided processing system
• D. Computer-aided dispatch system

Answer: (D)

In emergency communications, CAD refers to a Computer-Aided Dispatch system that helps dispatchers manage calls for service. It automates call intake, assigns the appropriate units, issues alerts, tracks unit status and location, and records incident details for quick retrieval. This focus on coordinating responders and incident workflow is what distinguishes it from other, similarly acronymed terms. For example, computer-aided design is about engineering drawings, not dispatch operations; a centralized alarm data system is about alarm data management rather than real-time dispatch; and a generic computer-aided processing system doesn't describe the specific dispatch workflow. So, the term used here is Computer-aided dispatch system.