One of the things that many people don’t realize is that GIS “maps” can contain more than land features. Geographical Information Systems is exactly that, Information about geographical location of “Things”. The information can be about surface features such as buildings, below surface features such as gas lines, and interior features such as a building layout.

I have talked to firetruck drivers that would love the option of a GIS system in the cab. Many trucks already have consoles that supply the crew chief basic information on the structure that they are responding to, but the driver/navigator does not have direct access to GIS information. If the response crew could see visual information on the site such as alternative routes, alternate points of entry and site information such as hazards material storage, propane tanks, gas line vents and water hook ups, they could plan for the situation better. Aerial photo overlaid on the GIS would add additional information including roof top structures such as vents, elevator shafts, storage tanks etc…

GIS does not need to limit itself to exterior features either, more and more large industrial sites are using internal engineering/mapping systems to identify and layout large manufacturing areas. With permission and planning, many of these systems could also be used by first response crews.

As an ex-forestry fire fighter in Canada, it was imperative that the ground crews had information via radio to accurate map information in order to plan points of attack and escape routes. In my time, we did not have handheld GPS receivers or GIS systems with airphoto overlays back then, but we sure could have used them. Identification of water sources, hazard tree removal for air tankers and helicopters as well as general land layout are widely use in Forestry fire fighting today all because of GIS.

More of the right information is always useful, but too much of the wrong information is just wasting time and resources. The problem is what information is useful at which time.