Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Mapping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Contractor describes "gridded" maps for schools, infrastructure; recommends standards, 911 integration
Summary
A contractor told the Legislative Budget Committee his firm's gridded reference graphics and collaborative response graphics (CRGs) give first responders a common operating picture for schools and other infrastructure and should be integrated with 911 and mobile apps.
A contractor briefing to the Legislative Budget Committee described a mapping technique for schools and other critical infrastructure that aims to give first responders a common, usable operating picture during emergencies.
The presenter, who identified himself as a former special-operations officer and said his company's technique is now used in about 17 states, described converting aerial imagery and floor plans into a gridded reference graphic that responders can read quickly under stress. "We turned it into a simple game of Battleship," he said, explaining the maps place letters across the top and numbers down the side so responders can reference any location on campus with a short grid callout.
Why it matters: the speaker told the committee that during multiagency responses responders who have not worked together need the same map to coordinate, whether they are local officers, county tactical teams or state troopers. He said maps should be oriented north-up, include the floor plan integrated with campus imagery, and be verified by an on-site walk-through so changes to buildings are captured.
Technical approach and integration: the presenter described two map scales: a micro CRG for interior floor-level detail and a macro CRG for campus-level staging, traffic control and rally points. He outlined an integration strategy that inserts maps into 911 software such as RapidDeploy for call-taking, into police and fire mobile platforms and into statewide mobile push systems (Lightning app) so responders can access maps on devices they already use. He said the team also links camera feeds to map grid squares by renaming cameras to match grid locations, making it easier for operators to identify camera locations in large schools.
Maintenance and governance: the presenter said roughly one-third of mapped schools change each year and that maps need an upkeep process; in pilot projects, vendors updated changed schools and redistributed map files to public-safety partners. He recommended three legislative standards for funded mapping initiatives: compatibility with existing public-safety software, on-site walk-through verification of floor plans, and a baseline set of required map elements (room numbers, AEDs, orientation north-up, campus imagery).
Examples and use: the briefing cited use in schools, airports, hospitals, corporate campuses and a lake community in Kansas; the speaker said maps were used in a recent active incident in Madison, Wisconsin, where maps created under a statewide initiative were available to first responders. He also described the practical value of printed poster-size maps for incident command posts and the continued need for paper in addition to digital access.
Ending: the presenter offered to answer questions and encouraged the committee to consider grant programs and baseline requirements if it funds a statewide mapping initiative; committee members asked about real-time officer tracking, camera integration and vendor responsibilities for initial mapping and ongoing updates.
