This latest article on Columbia disaster recovery is in Earth Observation Magazine, and hits some of the points you referred to in previous posting and the efforts from survey community. But mainly from Univ. of Texas involvement. Anyway, just wanted to post it up fyi.

http://www.eomonline.com/EOM_May05/focus01a.php

Thanks for the link.

That article really does bring out the fact how unprepared we are, or were, for an event of that magnitude. But, it also shows that those difficulties can be overcome with enough folks working together. I can not imagine how this type of response would have been possible with the technology of 15-20 years ago to handle such a catastrophy.

The need for a plan, including a predetermined single coordinate system definately made itself known. Those of us "Surveyors" in our little area were well aware of the difficulty in communications and coordination when there was no single fixed and known system to work in.

I am currently trying to decide how best to set up my own county with a coordinate system that would best serve the needs of all emergency response personel. Considering the fact that nearly all consumer grade GPS units handle UTM (in meters) and Lat/Long, I am leaning towards recommending UTM for a primary display and Lat/Long in D.ddddd for secondary. The UTM, as a simple cartesian system may actually help some of the firemen and rescue guys understand how to find their way with coordinates, and the Lat/Long will help the ambulance helicopters navigate.

I am actually in a position of creating a complete emergency GIS, navigation, mapping, etc., system for a 900+ square mile area, for fire and first responders. I want to do it right the first time, or at least do it in a way it can be easily converted to the right way. And, as a volunteer, the pressure is off so I can take my time to some degree. But, I really do want to get something running this year.

Thanks Tom. The article gave me the impression that no surveyors were involved in any way.

That was misleading, but most of the GIS articles downplayed the huge effort by surveyors to get data for the college and their maps.

It's hard to make a map without data.

Earth Observation Magazine

Some of the guys who worked on this task should get together and send in articles to several of these GIS magazines showing what worked, what didn't and the why's. We are the ones that can solve the mapping problems.

That is why I am now part of our EOC(Emergency Operation Center). You really have to be on the inside to make changes. I was amazed at just what our EOC plan left out as far as mapping and such.

For most incidents, the mapping is crucial to search, rescue and getting aid to where it is needed.

It is crucial to getting FEMA and National Support quickly. They can understand a picture immediately instead of reading a report.

If a surveyor had been one of the staff in the Incident Command Post, then there would not have been a problem of several different sets of coordinates being gathered.

The coordinate system would have been set up and defined in the IAP(Incident Action Plan). This plan might have called for many surveyors to come in as unit leaders and train 5-7 under them to properly use the handhelds. Simple instructions such as PDOPs, Number SV's and reading coordinates and navigating.

Actually a small instruction manual and a cheat sheet card could have been given with each receiver or to each user.

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JD.
We opted for SPC's in our MERC (Medical Emergency Response Coordinator)allocation of 50 gps receivers for 17 counties. All 17 are in the same zone.

I may change that to UTM since if we have something that involves that many counties, then we will have tons of federal agencys involved. UTM seems more familiar to those at the national level than SPC.

And we can easily move UTM to SPC for our mapping purposes.

I like the dual screen with Lat/Long. The helicopters and planes can use that directly without any conversion.

And JD..I think you are on the right track using UTM. If you guys were to come to Oklahoma to aid in a disaster, then mearly changing the zone would be ncessary, but the coordinates would still be familiar and the navigation functions.

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I recently did a day long field session with several Boy Scout Troops. It was for their Orienteering Merit Badge.

We divided them up. Placed spots on the quad sheets and gave some GPS and some compass and quads.

We drove them to various spots and dropped them off with only about 30 minutes training on using waypoints.

The scouts with GPS arrived back at base camp well ahead of the others.

Switched groups and the same outcome. The kids took to GPS like a duck to water and had no trouble understand cartesian coordinates.

It was fun watching them talk through process and how fast they caught on.

Deral Paulk, PLS OK

Here is a link to the program that we (and the feds and state) use to monitor an incident.

This program allows people all over the country to see the steps as they are taken.

We used Homeland Security grant money upgrade a server and get the program.

It's not just for huge disasters, but can be used on the local level to work small scale incidents. You only need a web browser to follow the event.

I'm looking at using it to coordinate with Fort Sill when we have a major water break on the base. Often these, incidents will run several days and generate hundreds of phone calls.

Using the WEB EOC, then anyone at the base or town can easily check the progress of the incident. The City manager can check the status from home as can anyone else.

Only those with admin rights can include information, but anyone can monitor the event. It's like having a police scanner, but actually getting photos, maps and other detailed reporting.

Web EOC

It creates a database to use and you could even use this in a town to track water main breaks, repairs and costs on a daily schedule. It doesn't have to be used for emergency's and can be used for anything.

I'm playing with it this weekend to see what other uses the City might be able to use it for to make us more efficient or to better manage our resources.

We have a simulated event coming up and I'll post a link so everyone can watch our event as it happens in real time.

Our event will involve about 100,000 people in our little area and several agencies.

Deral Paulk, PLS OK

Training time on the program was very minimal.

Okay, I'm on a roll with this Emergency Management stuff, but I equate it to GIS.

Get involved and be a part of what makes things work. I found many places where surveyors with a geographic background can help in important ways.

Here is the link to free FEMA courses. You get PDH's and they mail you certificate.

You'll need some of these courses to participate in an incident at more than a worker bee level.

FEMA Courses Online

The basic course that cover all the terminology are;
IS-100 Incident Command System
IS-195 Incident Command System
IS-200 Incident Command System.
Although titled the same, the cover different topics in the ICS program.
IS-700 NIMS (National Incident Management System).

The system is scalable and flexible for any event. It's very elegant in that rank dissappears in the ICS. I can have the Police Chief, Public Works director or the Fire Chief working under and reporting to me. It's all about the jobs and not about your daily work.

Understanding the terminology will help you get involved when you are needed. If you have the training, then they can plug you into a spot very easily.

(take a break...for a moment..I need another cup of coffee!)...

Okay. Where was I...Yes, get involved at the local level and get on the list.

Deral Paulk, PLS OK
Service Branch Director
Mac Pod Site

We labeled our waypoints with a POC (point of contact) and phone number.

This allows anyone to respond over the entire area and know which hospital or such to call that is nearby without hunting down a phone book or calling on the cell phone to the office to have someone look it up.

We have positioned containers in all counties with emergency equipment. Having the waypoint and number handy allows someone to meet you and have the container unlocked so you can get the gloves, masks or whatever is needed for the response.

Deral


Modified By Deral Paulk on 5/29/2005 at 9:18 AM