As a continuation of my last blog, I would like to offer a brief thought about the two other major elements for a sustainable GIS for public safety. GIS Of all the discussion in this year’s NAPSG Foundation’s Public Service and Fire Service GIS User Group meetings and workshops, a common theme was people - those who serve as GIS specialists, analysts, and managers and the need for training and standard performance criteria. Included in many of these discussions was the fact that, as much revered and valued GIS in fire departments, there was only one or two key people officially assigned to GIS, regardless of the size of the department. Although a foundational element, it is generally weaker in many locales than the other elements of software, hardware, and data.
Another foundational block is often the least considered by local and regional public safety agencies. Policy, like people, data, software,and hardware, should support the acquisition and use of data among all public safety organizations, Yet, too often policies actually limit the coordination of emergency efforts through overly secure measures to protect what? an agency’s perceived importance in a community? Furthering public policies that prohibit/restrict sharing data is dangerous and irresponsible, serving no one, especially the responders needing critical information in times of emergencies.
GIS not all about systems and certainly not about organizational ego. It’s about people and building a reliable decision making tool for protecting public safety professionals and those they serve.
