Evaluation of Emergency
Response GIS Solutions
Presenters
• Steve Thompson
– Introduction
– CATS
– CAMEO
• Hong Su
– Autodesk
– Accela
• Jeff Bourdier
– E Team
– MapTooL
– Conclusion
Why GIS?
“GIS technology gives public safety
personnel the ability to manage and analyze
large amounts of location-based
information. Data (including files from
legacy systems) can be stored in a
geodatabase and used to visualize spatial
relationships and reveal trends critical to
public safety response and planning.
Computer-generated maps can be shared
across a network or the Internet with
multiple agencies to coordinate efforts and
maximize resources.”
Source: http://www.esri.com/industries/public_safety/
Why Emergency Response?
"Preparing communities to respond to
bioterrorist threats or events is a top
priority in our country right now. With GIS
as a core component to this solution, the
immediate impact will be to make GIS an
integral component of the day-to-day
operations of public health and public
safety organizations.”
Bill Davenhall, Health Industry Solutions Manager, ESRI
Project Goal
• Identify emergency response software
package that best fits the needs for a
medium sized city (Arlington, TX)
– Evaluate off-the-shelf emergency response
software applications and tools
– Assume that no GIS-based emergency response
system currently exists
Consequence Assessment
Tool Set (CATS)
GIS Platform
Utilizes ESRI ArcGIS 9 with Spatial Analyst Extension
Applications
Natural Disasters, Fires/Explosions, Toxic Releases,
Bioterrorism
Functionality
Real-time hazard display and analysis, Emergency response
planning, Evacuation planning, Real-time response when used in
conjunction with E-team
ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) –
Dispersion Model, DTRA – HPAC Suite
Over 150 databases integrated
Models and
Databases
Users
Local Emergency Planning Committee, First Responders,
Response Center Personnel
Support
SAIC – Developer website, User-forums, FEMA, EPA
Costs
Arcview bundle ($2500) plus cost for CATS, software is free but
$650 per seat for technical support and training.
CATS - Hazard
Prediction and
Assessment Capability
(HPAC)
Catastrophic Natural
Event Prediction
Realtime –
Roadblock
information
Computer-Aided Management of
Emergency Operations - CAMEO
GIS Platform
Utilizes its own mapping tool MARPLOT (Mapping Application
for Response Planning and Local Operational Tasks)
Applications
Fires/Explosions, Toxic Releases, Bioterrorism
Functionality
Real-time hazard display and analysis, Emergency response
planning, Evacuation planning,
Models and
Databases
ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) –
Dispersion Model, MARPLOT – Mapping, LandViewPopulation, Tiger data
Users
Local Emergency Planning Committee, First Responders,
Response Center Personnel
Support
NOAA, EPA, Census Dept.
Costs
Free, Potential costs for updated meteorological and detailed
roads data
CAMEO Interface
CAMEO Scenario 1:
• Train Derailment: Train containing benzene has derailed
and several tank cars have caught fire and are releasing
benzene gas
ALOHA modeling
Evaluation of Autodesk
GIS Platform
Autodesk MapGuide® 6.5 software
Applications
Natural Disasters(Earthquake,Floods), Fires, Bombing
Functionality
Quickly access, visualize, and analyze critical data so people
can understand and appropriately respond to emergencies
Models and
Databases
AutoCAD drawings, engineering data, demographics, hazardous
material locations
Users
Fire and police departments, local government, search and recovery
teams
Support
website, User-forums
Costs
$4,197.00 government price for MapGuide: 10 User Starter Pack,
Additional costs for other modules: Autodesk Preplan, Autodesk Crisis
Command, Autodesk Mobile Command, AutoCAD, 3D Studio
Three Main Components of Autodesk
Emergency Response Model
Administrative - Training and
preplanning are done in this phase
– Autodesk Pre-Plan
Tactical - Refers to the “first responder”
activity that takes place on the scene
of an emergency
– Autodesk Mobile Command
Strategic - Refers to the management of
a disaster, which often takes place in
an emergency command center away
from the actual sit
– Autodesk Crisis Command 2
Autodesk
Detail CAD
Drawings
Autodesk
3D Viewer
Autodesk
Mapping
Building
Footprint
Evaluation of ACCELA
GIS Platform
Accela GIS, Built on Vantage360
Applications
Natural Disasters(Earthquake,Floods), Fires
Functionality
With the ability to automate workflow, track information, and manage
data from a centralized database .
Models and
Databases
Accela Asset Management, Accela Land Management, Accela GIS,
Accela Wireless
Users
Government agencies (E-government solution)
Support
Interactive Voice Response
Costs
Solutions run around $100 month for services
Components of Accela Emergency
Response Solution
Accela Land Management
– Capture detailed information on a building or structure
– Attach and retrieve CAD drawings, photographs, and other document files
Accela GIS
– Maximize time in the field during the response
– Automate map analyse and append map layers
Accela Wireless
– Perform Rapid Damage Assessment
– Real-time Data updates from the field
Accela GIS Viewer
Evaluation of E Team
GIS Platform
ESRI – Powered by ArcIMS
Applications
Any type of emergency
Functionality
Every phase of a crisis: “preparedness… response… recovery”
Models and
Databases
CATS-generated plume models can be integrated, analyzed, and
distributed; DB integration offered as professional service
Users
Emergency management, law enforcement, fire, public works,
public health, the environment
Support
Phone, fax, e-mail, online; professional or “specialized support”
services also offered
Costs
$1900/license, deals available
E Team Screen Shots
Evaluation of MapTooL
GIS Platform
ESRI – Map Objects version 2.3
Applications
Designed with firefighting in mind, but can be useful for other
emergencies based on information collected by user
Functionality
Navigation, information retrieval, data collection, administrative
decision support
Models and
Databases
No native modeling capability, but output from other systems can
be displayed and queried within MapTooL
Users
First responders and administrative personnel, primarily fire
agencies
Support
Annual maintenance contract includes 20 hrs. technical support
plus DB, liaison, and versioning services
Costs
Set-up fee ~$7000, $900/license, annual maintenance fee based
on number of licenses purchased
MapTooL Screen Shots
Conclusion
• Good general solution: E Team and CATS
• Good low-cost alternative: CAMEO
• Autodesk
– Pro: CAD interface
– Con: Complexity (modules)
• MapTooL
– Pro: Ease of use
– Con: Cost
• Accela generally weak