Evaluation of Emergency Response GIS Solutions

Presenters Steve Thompson Hong Su Jeff Bourdier 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 Models and Databases ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) – Dispersion Model, DTRA – HPAC Suite Over 150 databases integrated 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) Realtime – Roadblock information CATS - Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) CATS operates within a full featured GIS. This means that the GIS acts as an operating system for the CATS application. The GIS environment allows the user to do far more than merely display graphical representations of hazard footprints on map backgrounds. Catastrophic Natural Event Prediction

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, LandView- Population, 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 Detail CAD Drawings 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