1. 2017 National Geospatial Preparedness Summit
August 7-9, 2017
On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security’s Geospatial Management Office, I am honored to welcome you all to the third annual National Geospatial Preparedness Summit.
Over 200 leaders are here together in Tuscaloosa Alabama, in support of a common goal – to build a stronger, more resilient nation through the power of geospatial data and technology.
Thank you for taking the time away from your busy schedules and families, to travel here to Alabama, for this important preparedness effort.
NGPS is the nation’s only summit dedicated to advancing the use of geospatial technology and data
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The nation’s only preparedness summit dedicated to advancing the use of location-enabled decision support technology and data.
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2017 NGPS Partners
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2017 Event Sponsors
Platinum Gold
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5. Welcome and Introductions
Michael Donnelly, Deputy Director Geospatial Management Office, US Department of Homeland Security
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6. Why We Are Here
Prepare agencies with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance decision making through the use of geospatial technology and data.
Develop new technical skills to advance the use of data analytics in public safety
Develop a common understanding of what information are needed to make effective decision
Learn how to create GIS-based products that fill critical information requirements of decision makers
Exercise and validate capabilities in a flood incident scenario
Identify specific gaps in our capabilities, areas for improvement, and practical solution sets
It is a unique education, training, and exercise forum that is both local in context and national in scope
The diversity and holistic approach of NGPS programming, is a distinguishing factor
Yesterday many of your received hands-on technical GIS training, where you gained new skills that advance the use of the latest technology and data analytics for homeland security and public safety
I also had the opportunity to meet and work with many of you in the Data Preparedness Workshop that also served as a HIFLD Community Session
Yesterday afternoon a handful of folks participated with me in an Executive Seminar hosted by NAPSG in partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, a congressionally mandated program
We engaged in a tabletop exercise based on a complex coordinated attack, similar to the Paris Attacks – which serves as the framework for defining the present and future state of situational awareness capabilities in our nation
Today we have a series of panel sessions and workshops that address a broad array of hot topics, from mutual aid and emerging technologies to the latest in geospatial policy and damage assessment processes
Tomorrow you will have the opportunity to bring it all together, and stress test your newly gained knowledge and skills through a hybrid tabletop and functional exercise based on a flood incident scenario

7. NGPS by the Numbers and a Map
215 participants
39 states
120 agencies
10 disciplines
Now I’d like to give you a snapshot of who is here today
This is the largest NGPS on record, with more than 200 participants over the three days
We represent 39 states from across all levels of government from 120 agencies, representing 10 different public safety disciplines
This map gives you a visual for the geographic diversity of our group here today
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8. Participation by Organization Type
This first chart provides you with an idea of the breakdown of participation by level of government and type of organization
30% of you represent the largest category - local agencies – remember, all incidents are local
14% represent state agencies and 12% Regional
We also have participation by tribal nations, Federal government, national organizations, and the private sector
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9. Participation by Discipline
This next chart gives you an idea of the breakdown of the disciplines we represent
The orange represents emergency management and the brown GIS staff that support public safety – both represented at around 30% each
Fire/EMS is also represented strongly, along with law enforcement, search and rescue, fusion centers, and the national guard
This year’s NGPS is a special opportunity to meet colleagues from around the country, from different disciplines and walks of life, to share and exchange successes, lessons learned, and innovative ideas
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Our Outcomes
Gained knowledge and skills that increase your agency’s preparedness
Developed specific ideas for how to improve your use of technology, data, and analysis
Identified and explored potential solution sets that fill mission critical gaps
Bridged the communications gap between decision makers, operators, and GIS staff
Built a stronger network of colleagues around the nation, and shared lessons learned
And with that I’d like to remind you of what our intended outcomes are for this 3-day education, training, and exercise Summit
Listen, ask questions, and share
And in tomorrow’s exercise, be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and work as you would in a real-world event
This is our opportunity to bring decision makers, operators, and GIS staff together - to prepare our nation
I look forward to working with you all over the next 2 days
Thank you!
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Opening Remarks
David Alexander, Chief Geospatial Scientist, First Responders Group US Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate
John M. Wiest, Associate Dean, College of Engineering University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
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