GIS for Crisis Management and Rescue Systems

Case study: GIS for Prague Health Rescue Service

Health Operation Centre Information System (HOCIS) represents a reliable system supporting activities of Health Rescue Service of the City of Prague. The system was designed specifically for dispatchers of the operation centre and features simple user-friendly environment assuring quick and precise response to emergencies. The information system is built on Esri technology and is fully integrated into other technological systems employed by rescue services.

Map client is an indispensible part of the system. It enables its users to visualize emergencies as well as location of the caller and rescue units. The client also contains tools for easy navigation in the area – display of POI (points of interest) and other navigation points, several search options, distance measuring or classification of rescue units according to their status.

Within the system following functionality was implemented:

• reception of emergency call
-via telephone, text message or TCTV112 data record, including identification of the caller and his/her location and incident classification
• communication with rescue units
- voice and data communication with rescue units via telephone, radio network, text messaging or paging
• operation management
- tools and functions supporting decision making processes of dispatchers, visualization in geographical information system (GIS), rescue units management
• rescue units monitoring
• secondary transports
- management of secondary transport requirements
• integration of technologies and other systems
• reports
-generation of reports, printouts and statistics
• administration of the system and base maps
- system configuration, users and user rights management, backup, update and editing of base maps

T-MAPY’s information system for Prague Health Operation Centre features:

• utilization of standard technologies
• communication and integration into other parts of the system
• specialized tools and functions for Health Rescue Service dispatchers
• combination of standard base maps and specific data
• performance-oriented, efficient and user-friendly enviroment

Case study: GIS for Fire Brigade Operation Centres

Information System of Crisis Management (IS CM) is a system used by rescue services and other crisis management organisations. The system contains tools for preparation of possible emergency precautions as well as instant critical situations solving. While most of the information utilized in IS CM is represented by geographical data (e.g. incident and rescue services location), GIS (Geographic Information System) plays an indispensable role.

Since 2006 T-MAPY has been developing GIS for Fire Brigade Operation Centres. The main requirements on the system were non-stop data availability to all IS CM users, security, data misuse protection (authentication, authorisation, …), central data storage (all data is distributed from central storage), support of assorted application types, support of standardized services and modularity.

T-MAPY’s solution represents a combination of server and desktop technologies. GIS is built on Esri products (ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Server), data warehouse employs ORACLE 10g. All data is stored and managed in one central data warehouse from which it is replicated to several “mother” storages. These storages then provide data via map services to regional operation centres.

Primary crisis management operation centre utilizes web application based on T-MapServer and ArcGIS Server technologies. It contains tools for security risks evaluation as well as for planning, management and supervision of activities related to emergency situation solving.

Dispatchers benefit from T-MAPY’s desktop application GISelIZS AE (built on Esri ArcObjects component) which is fully integrated into other applications used by operation centres. Users of this application are provided with general overview of incidents location on a map, rescue units movement and other necessary information for efficient risk operation management. This application also enables its users to perform quick search of various geographical objects and addresses.

T-MAPY’s GIS for Fire Brigade Operation Centres features:

• single central data storage
• search for location of various objects on a map (incl. endangered objects identification)
• evacuation route planning
• performing of various spatial analyses (such as simulation of pollutant transport, … )
• performance-oriented and user-friendly enviroment