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Quick Guide to Building a GIS - For Your Public Safety Agency

NCJ Number
236130
Date Published
2011
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides information to develop a fire or public safety agency geographic information system (GIS).
Abstract
Public safety practitioners recognize the importance of GIS. This booklet provides practical advice on how to partner with the right community people to build a GIS that serves the needs of public safety. A GIS is an information system that understands location; it is intelligent and interactive. Creating, maintaining, and managing an effective information system is critical to the mission of today's emergency operations. Pages 4-7 of this guide describe a set of fundamental concepts and principles universal to a successful public safety GIS. Tabbed sections provide information on building the GIS; each tab represents a crucial phase: assessing needs, planning and using the system, and managing the system. A checklist is provided for each phase.