Improving emergency response logistics through advanced GIS

Background: Emergency call centres, commonly known as “112” or “911”, are a crucial part of modern infrastructure. The location of the emergency, any related data, and good GIS support are required for their efficient operations. The location in particular is a vital piece of information but nevertheless often not obtained automatically at all or with insufficient accuracy, thus limiting both the speed and the reliability of emergency response. Methods: We present multiple improvements and novel features aimed at emergency response. A smart phone app speeds up and simplifies the acquisition of the location and other data. The typical problem of low penetration of such apps is solved by the web application accessible via an SMS. Common operational picture allows the operators to manage resources used throughout an intervention as well as review the past resource management. Statistical analysis strives to suggest the best course of action to the operators. Road access time calculations enable the analysis and improvement of emergency preparedness. Results: All our improvements, which are currently in various stages of development, were evaluated by the domain experts at the Slovenian Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The automated data collection through web and native app, the calculation of road access times for emergency response units, and common operational picture management are already used in day-to-day operations. They have helped to find lost people, to establish new emergency response units where needed, and to manage resources in refugee camps. On the other hand, the suggested statistical approach to guiding call takers was discarded and suggested that the collected data rather be used for personnel training only. Conclusions: Most of our contributions to the emergency response process and software have proven valuable during actual emergencies, with certain shortcoming that still need to be addressed.