4 Ways Integrated Mapping Increases Productivity for Law Enforcement and First Responders
This week, I am attending the 2018 ESRI User Conference in San Diego as an Emerging Business Partner. One of our Platform Goals at SOMA Global is to have robust mapping as a fully integrated and available feature across all our public safety applications. We believe through our close partnership with ESRI, we can provide Dispatchers, Law Enforcement and other First Responders with a geo-spatial visualizations that allow them to be more productive and efficient. Here are some examples:
1. Call-Context Dispatch and Routing
Dispatching First Responders can be a non-trivial task, considering multiple factors:
- Call Location and in relation to other Active Calls
- All Units’ Status and Location
- Unit Proximity and ETA to the Active Call
- Hazards and other POIs in the Dispatch Area
- Historical Call and Crime Information
Arranging all of this information in the context of the active call that is being dispatched allows both the Dispatcher and the First Responders to get a better, more complete operating picture in a response.
2. Historical Tracking of Unit Location/Bearing/Speed
There is a wealth of information, insight and “CYA” in recording dispatched Units location, bearing and speed. Using ESRI’s ArcGIS Platform, these features can be configured to be stored and displayed in a time series. A timelapse of a response or pursuit can easily be recalled and played back for a more compelling visualization of historical dispatch activity.
3. Visualization of Crime Patterns
Crime Analysis is another feature of of ArcGIS Pro that can be used by crime analysts to visualize crime patterns.
Crime Analysis includes an ArcGIS Pro Add-in that organizes existing geoprocessing tools used in crime analysis workflows, and provides several new tools that support data management, tactical and strategic analysis, investigative analysis, and information sharing needs. The tools are provided in ArcGIS Pro context menus and on a single ribbon that simplifies their use by crime analysts.
4. Optimizing Location-Based Activities
One of the best uses of GIS Mapping and Geolocation tools for Law Enforcement in to optimize their activities around the location they are working. Some examples include:
- Call and Crime History— Giving all the prior information about the location of a dispatched call can be one of the more important uses of location-based call and crime history. When Law Enforcement and First Responders are dispatched to a call, a quick visualization of any historical information in the proximity of the call that can be a threat to the health and safety of the responders, can mean life-or-death.
- Setting up Perimeters — In many situations, there are tactical activites that involve strategic placement of dispatched resources in and around the active situation. The best way to deploy and visualize these resources is on a map, preferably multiple-map views.
- Serving Outstanding Warrants — When an deputy has just cleared off a call, and placing themselves back In-Service, what is a quick, efficient use of his or her time? “Show me outstanding warrants around me” — pulling those warrants and placing them on a map in the proximity of their current location.
Maps are central to our Agencies in Public Safety as they are to users in other industries. I’m excited to learn more this week at ESRI’s User Conference. They always put on a good show. You can follow @EsriUC on Twitter here and my thoughts on the show here.
