Former special-operations rescue leader pitches gridded school maps to speed emergency response

A mapping technique developed from military gridded-reference graphics was presented to the Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs as a way to give first responders a common operating picture when responding to school emergencies.

"We have created a framework for what this can look like," Josh Longnecker, regional director for Critical Response Group, told the committee. Longnecker said the technique overlays an alphanumeric grid on up-to-date aerial imagery, reorients floor plans to true north, walks every hallway and classroom to update schematics and labels, and adds tactical details such as AEDs, gas shutoffs and preferred evacuation areas.

Longnecker said his organization has mapped more than 20,000 schools nationwide and has implemented pilot programs in multiple states. He described three core problems with existing blueprints: inconsistent orientation (plan north vs. true north), outdated or inaccurate floor plans, and lack of tactical labeling for first responders. To address those issues, CRG produces two products for each site: a macro (exterior/staging) map and an interior, floor-by-floor collaborative response graphic.

On data governance and access, Longnecker emphasized that the mapping data is owned by the school in perpetuity and that the maps are delivered in file formats compatible with local computer-aided dispatch (CAD) platforms and mobile applications used by first responders. "I wanna be upfront that this is not a vendor bill," he said, adding that CRG does not lock data behind a proprietary subscription: the vendor places the maps in the formats local and state agencies already use.

Committee members asked about maintenance and access: Longnecker said CRG performs quarterly check-ins and will re-walk a site after renovations; during the first year the vendor will make any necessary changes. Schools cannot directly edit the authoritative map files, Longnecker said, because the program must preserve a single common operating picture for all responding agencies; instead, schools request updates through the vendor. He also said first responders do not pay a subscription to access the map data when it is integrated into their existing dispatch or mobile systems.

Longnecker said he is working with Chemeketa Community College's director of security on a local implementation and that the CRG process can also be applied to higher-education campuses, community colleges and K–12 schools.

The committee thanked Longnecker for the presentation and expressed support for mapping that could improve response times and coordination during critical incidents. Several senators offered to facilitate follow-up briefings with higher-education institutions and local public-safety partners.