GPS and GIS Integration in Mobile Equipment for Improved Mobile Emergency Operations

Paul Labbe

Abstract:	Integration of GPS and GIS capabilities into transceiving equipment offers information-sharing and network-management opportunities that would significantly im-prove the effectiveness of a large variety of operations. Analyses of joint operations-those among agencies of a country-and coalition operations-those among coun-tries- has shown that although data are often available somewhere within an information system they are not necessarily shared appropriately and are often not trans-formed into knowledge useful to the end-users, the deci-sion- makers. In addition, few tools are available to fa-cilitate inter-agency interoperability, especially for mo-bile units, and one may assume that some disaster will disable the emergency communications used at present. We propose that new “self-aware” radios with integrated GPS-GIS capabilities be used when rapidly deployable mobile operations centers and alternate networks are needed. “Self-aware” equipment includes relays, fixed and mobile stations and hand-held equipment. By using this equipment, agencies needing improved sharing of dynamic position and geospatial information would more effectively transform data into knowledge and thus would increase their effectiveness, both in routine and emer-gency operations. The potential number of users for such technology integration justifies its exploration, its design and assessment for operations ranging from routine to disaster relief. The impact on mission effectiveness of integrating positional with geospacial information and other operational information in joint and coalition op-erations has shown sufficient increase in mission success rate for justifying such technological and cultural changes. Proper technology integration, training and planning would improve disaster relief operations success and tempo.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999) September 14 - 17, 1999 Nashville, TN
Pages:	545 - 554
Cite this article:	Labbe, Paul, "GPS and GIS Integration in Mobile Equipment for Improved Mobile Emergency Operations," Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999), Nashville, TN, September 1999, pp. 545-554.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In