Attending my 10th (or is it 11th?) ESRI User Conference in San Diego CA this last week, I noticed a definite shift in focus. At one time, public safety discussions tended to circle around whose got the biggest, fastest, latest software/hardware. Of course, that comparison and gadget envy will not go away, but the subjects (and tone) of current discussions indicate a clear message.
Message 1. We must engage in long term considerations for resource sharing among various public safety and GIS professionals, and private entities. The key word is AMONG - not the traditional BETWEEN. Everyone is talking. These multi-jurisdictional/multi-discipline/public-private sector discussions include the sharing of data, resources, and information. Assuming this re-focus may be primarily driven by evaporating funding, I have a few concerns. I've seen past organizational behaviors that tell me we may have little time to act to make the most of the opportunities before us. In past times of economic stress, top level agencies agree to play nice and share when funds dictate. The time spent in adjusting rules and agreements to eventually cooperate served only to strengthen functional silos when funding began to flow once again. However, this time it seems different.
I am meeting more and more dedicated personnel working to accomplish much with little are turning to each other for mutual assistance to complete a comprehensive public safety mission (not just those of their respective agencies). This is an excellent sign for the future.
Message 2. Amid the realities of increasing threats and public safety responsibilities, the concerns of local control and need to share additional and perhaps previously unobtainable data are driving key decisions. Since emergencies occur locally, the local first responders have the best opportunities to collect, maintain, and use local data. States and federal agencies are not able to do what local agencies can do. In the event of a large scale event, it's the accretion of data from the local agencies that creates the common operating picture. And reality check: data is not not the only thing to be shared - place names particular to jurisdictions, common routers, mobile GPS devices, mobile resources, and multiple resources for gathering data are being discussed.
Message 3. I believe that public safety leaders are recognizing that the long term investment in acquiring and/or developing shared resource of skilled, creative GIS professionals will secure the sustainability of their organizations' missions and commitment to their citizens.
The AH-HA moment: With each encounter, whether a one-to-one or in addressing large groups, I sense many public safety folks are realizing that the "map" is a not the point of GIS. They are seeing value of GIS is the capability to analyze and enhance the visualization of the data, often accompanied by the slap-to-the-head surprise that visualization can be way more than a pie chart or line graph.
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Message 1. We must engage in long term considerations for resource sharing among various public safety and GIS professionals, and private entities. The key word is AMONG - not the traditional BETWEEN. Everyone is talking. These multi-jurisdictional/multi-discipline/public-private sector discussions include the sharing of data, resources, and information. Assuming this re-focus may be primarily driven by evaporating funding, I have a few concerns. I've seen past organizational behaviors that tell me we may have little time to act to make the most of the opportunities before us. In past times of economic stress, top level agencies agree to play nice and share when funds dictate. The time spent in adjusting rules and agreements to eventually cooperate served only to strengthen functional silos when funding began to flow once again. However, this time it seems different.
I am meeting more and more dedicated personnel working to accomplish much with little are turning to each other for mutual assistance to complete a comprehensive public safety mission (not just those of their respective agencies). This is an excellent sign for the future.
Message 2. Amid the realities of increasing threats and public safety responsibilities, the concerns of local control and need to share additional and perhaps previously unobtainable data are driving key decisions. Since emergencies occur locally, the local first responders have the best opportunities to collect, maintain, and use local data. States and federal agencies are not able to do what local agencies can do. In the event of a large scale event, it's the accretion of data from the local agencies that creates the common operating picture. And reality check: data is not not the only thing to be shared - place names particular to jurisdictions, common routers, mobile GPS devices, mobile resources, and multiple resources for gathering data are being discussed.
Message 3. I believe that public safety leaders are recognizing that the long term investment in acquiring and/or developing shared resource of skilled, creative GIS professionals will secure the sustainability of their organizations' missions and commitment to their citizens.
The AH-HA moment: With each encounter, whether a one-to-one or in addressing large groups, I sense many public safety folks are realizing that the "map" is a not the point of GIS. They are seeing value of GIS is the capability to analyze and enhance the visualization of the data, often accompanied by the slap-to-the-head surprise that visualization can be way more than a pie chart or line graph.
