Mapping Tech in Public Safety

Steve and Chris interview Daniel Stoelb from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.  Daniel shared his incites on uses for GIS in emergency management and shares some contrast between his pre and post pandemic experiences.

Technology changes rapidly. These rapid advancements also include Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While certain GIS technologies weren't available to us, Chris and Steve discuss with guest Peter Hanna, GIS efforts that we could have done differently. We reflect back on years past on items that would have improved GIS within our agencies.  Some of these efforts still could be applied to working or managing today's GIS organizations. Having a Strategic Plan or having a champion helping the advancement of technology initiatives are some of our discussions.  In this episode, the three of us also play a little Geography quiz. Hint: Steve lost. Sound effects provided by: Epidemic Sound.

The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division is the primary federal laboratory conducting research, development, testing, and evaluation for public safety communications technologies. Each year the PSCR conducts a conference. Just like all other conferences, this particular conference was conducted virtually.  Chris and Steve discuss the highlights and our thoughts on some of the various technology presented. The PSCR 2020 can still be viewed online on their virtual conference center.  Never miss an episode of Mapping Tech in Public Safety by hitting the subscribe button. VIsit our Blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

Day 4 of the ESRI GIS User Conference concluded the first virtual conference today. On this episode of Mapping Tech in Public Safety we discuss some of the conference highlights with Peter Hanna and ESRI's Public Safety Director Ryan Lanclos. Come listen to our thoughts about this year’s GIS presentations. VIsit our Blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

Day 3 of the ESRI GIS User Conference. Mapping Tech in Public Safety discusses some of today's conference highlights with Peter Hanna. Come listen to our thoughts about this year’s GIS presentations. VIsit our Blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

Day 2 of the ESRI GIS User Conference. Mapping Tech in Public Safety discusses some of today's conference highlights with Peter Hanna. Come listen to our thoughts about this year’s GIS presentations. VIsit our Blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

The ESRI GIS User Conference kicked off today. Just like many other conferences, this year is an all virtual format. Mapping Tech in Public Safety will have some quick discussions and ideas during each day of the conference. Come listen to our thoughts about this year’s GIS presentations. VIsit our Blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

"The power of web GIS has allowed us to enable the Houston Police Department with maps and apps that help solve crime, improve efficiency and provide a safe environment for the citizens. You have to change the culture and the mood of the department. This is how GIS technology can help  our operations and workflows being more efficient. Be a GIS Champion and play the long game." Mapping Tech in Public Safety talk with Lt. Freddie Croft and GIS Manager Patrick Alexander how they implemented an impressive GIS system within the Houston Police Department in approximately 1 year. Never miss an episode of Mapping Tech in Public Safety by hitting the subscribe button. Click the bell to be notified when an episode is released.

On this episode of Mapping Tech in Public Safety, Chris and Steve talk with German Whitley, Holley Torpey, and Erin Arkinson from the GIS Corps. The organization has 6 Core Committee Members and approximately 7000 volunteers. The GIS Corps has supported Public Safety agencies and organizations during Tornadoes, Hurricanes,  Search and Rescue, and mostly recently COVID-19. After ESRI contacted the GIS Corps to assist in creating data, the organization teamed up with "Coders Against COVID" to create an authoritative dataset of approximately 7400 Testing Sites utilizing 700 volunteers. Listen to this episode to learn more about the GIS Corps efforts to support Public Safety incidents. Visit the GIS Corps website for information how to become a volunteer or request assistance: GIS Corps Become a GISCorps volunteer Request GIS Corp assistance Take the GISCorps GIS Service Pledge

During COVID-19, we've seen an explosion of data come out of the woodwork and people exposing their data. As a data person, it's like Christmas. We get to just do things and be innovative and entrepreneurial, whether that's solving problems for hospitals or fire chiefs thinking about new things to do with the data. After we're done with COVID-19, as we use back into it, there's a lot of space for thinking  creativity and this kind of space. Listen to the full discussion with Dave Blankinship. Please hit the subscribe button and leave us a comment. Visit our blog at: www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com Join us on our Slack Page to connect and discuss Public Safety GIS. Articles discussed during the episode. How your GIS department can respond to COVID-19 Stop using Zip Codes for Geospatial Analysis FEMA data-sharing portal for pandemic response

Mapping Tech in Public Safety discuss the "Five steps to understand the potential impact COVID-19 can have on your organization and community" from ESRI's ArcGIS Hub website. Step 1 - Map the cases Step 2 - Map the spread Step 3 - Map vulnerable populations Step 4 - Map your capacity Step 5 - Communicate with maps Chris and Steve also discuss GIS resources to aid Public Safety Agencies and municipalities. Visit these GIS resources: ESRI COVID GIS Hub National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Please follow you municipality's guidelines to stay safe during this worldwide incident. Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a comment.

Mapping Tech in Public Safety co-host Chris Rogers was quarantined due to the COVID-19. After responding to a job at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Chris was exposed to the Coronavirus. Due to the exposure, the entire firehouse crew was affected. Chris discusses his experience being quarantined in the firehouse.  GIS is so important during evolving incidents. Especially incidents that change on an hourly basis. Chris and Steve discuss the response / resources from the GIS community and government agencies publishing maps and data about the spread of the Coronavirus.  Please follow you municipality's guidelines to stay safe during this worldwide incident. Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us a comment.

Mapping Tech in Public Safety discusses the growth in GIS over the last 10 years. With the web and mobile apps paving the way for non-GIS professionals to have geographic data on their mobile devices at all times. Paper maps still have a role in GIS, but have rapidly decreased.  With the increasing tech advances in wearable devices, Chris and Steve discuss possible visions over the next 10 years.  Please subscribe to our podcast.

On this episode of Mapping Tech in Public Safety, Chris and Steve talk about various topics of Public Safety GIS with Jeff Baranyi. Jeff is a member of the ESRI Public Safety team.  We discuss about future possibilities of GIS for Public Safety personnel with indoor mapping, 3D display, personnel tracking, and a heads up display. Our discussion also talks about GIS in the fire service, law enforcement, and Emergency Management. During these topics we discuss how GIS analysis benefits public safety agencies. (The Why of the Where).  Jeff tells us how public safety agencies can obtain support from ESRI during a crisis through the ESRI Disaster Response Program (DRP). https://www.esri.com/en-us/disaster-response/overview Please subscribe to our podcast.

The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS (NAPSG) Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit organization that was formed in 2005 to overcome the challenges faced by Federal, tribal, state, and local public safety agencies. The foundation is a consortium of national organizations which represent local government, public safety, and health professionals with a shared vision of advancing the effective use of GIS for public safety. NAPSG assists emergency management and public safety with the knowledge, skills, and resources to apply decision-support technology and data in enhancing preparedness and building a more resilient nation.  Mapping Tech in Public Safety discusses the history, vision and mission of NAPSG. Listen to Director Peter O'Rourke and Project Manager Paul Doherty, Phd discuss the purpose of the organization and current on-going projects within the organization. 

Damage Assessment Demo Mapping Tech in Public Safety discusses a series of educational demo episodes to show the uses and benefits of GIS technology for Public Safety. These podcast episodes will build upon future episodes as Chris and Steve show different applications for collecting and sharing data. This episode uses the Damage Assessment layer from Part 1 to collect data from the field. Along with the audio recording of the episode, videos of the episode will be posted on YouTube and our blog. www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

Damage Assessment Demo Mapping Tech in Public Safety is starting a series of educational demo episodes to show the uses and benefits of GIS technology for Public Safety. These podcast episodes will build upon future episodes as Chris and Steve show different applications for collecting and sharing data.  This episode will begin with creating a Damage Assessment layer used to display building damage and severity during an incident. Along with the audio recording of the episode, videos of the episode will be posted on YouTube and our blog.  www.mappingtechinpublicsafety.com

Interview with Chief John Morrison (Viena, VA Volunteer FD) and Chief Ry Kendrick (Fairfax County, VA Fire & Rescue) Both of the Chiefs are on the Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue - Planning Section.  The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department sponsors an Urban Search and Rescue Program that supports both domestic and international responses.  Domestically the team deploys as part of the FEMA National Urban Search & Rescue Response System as VA-TF1.  Internationally the team deploys as USA-1 under the auspices of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Response (OFDA).  The team has deployed multiple times assisting with coordination and search & rescue involving large scale disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding.  Outside of response the team also provides assistance with response capacity building efforts benefiting citizens of the United states and the global community. Having deployed numerous times as one of the 28 FEMA teams and 2 partner OFDA teams, Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue has become one of a very small number of highly qualified and experienced USAR responders. Listen as the Chiefs discuss their deployments to location such as Haiti and Napal and their use with GIS and maps.  The Chief's also discuss the use of GIS within their Fire Departments.

All Public Safety agencies prepare for daily operations and major incidents. In Public Safety GIS, preparedness is just as important!!! Listen to Chris and Steve discuss having map data, symbology, equipment and resources ready so they are easily accessible and understandable during an incident.

What happens behind the scenes with GIS when you call 911? Mapping Tech in Public Safety podcast Ep4 will discuss with guests from GeoComm how vital GIS in a Next Generation 911 system.