GIS-based emergency management

• US 20050034075A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CH2M Hill Incorporated (CH2M Hill Companies Limited)
• Original Assignee: CH2M Hill Incorporated (CH2M Hill Companies Limited)
• Inventors: Riegelman, Edward A., Heyerdahl, Luke A., Huber, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US10/456,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20050034075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/714
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A GIS-based system and method for simulating, viewing, analyzing and managing emergency or other events is provided. A multi-layered map of the event location and surrounding area is displayed by a computer. A cordon area around the event location may be displayed as an additional layer and affected facilities may be highlighted. Traffic control points (TCPs) around the periphery of the cordon area may also be identified on the map. Thus, emergency personnel may be efficiently dispatched to assist evacuations and restrict access to the cordon area. If the event includes a hazardous material spill or threat, the computer may generate a plume dispersion model and display the estimated plume as another layer on the map whereupon an extended cordon area may be displayed and additional affected facilities and new TCPs highlighted. Real-time information may be received from on-scene personnel, remote sensors and other means and the map may thus be kept current.

Claims

1. A GIS-based system for analyzing actual and simulated events, comprising:

a computer;

a display device coupled to the computer;

a window displayed on the display device for displaying a selected GIS-based map and selected facilities and infrastructure;

an events menu displayed on the display device for displaying user-selectable events;

a first selecting device coupled to the computer for selecting an event from the events menu;

a second selecting device coupled to the computer for identifying an event location on the displayed map;

an input device coupled to the computer for inputting a cordon area around the selected event location;

a first map layer for displaying the cordon area on the selected map; and

a second map layer for highlighting on the selected map facilities and infrastructure affected by the selected event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein affected infrastructure includes road intersections designated by the computer as traffic control points traffic for regulation in and around the cordon area.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising information inputs regarding a status of individual affected facilities and infrastructure.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a third selecting device coupled to the computer and responsive to the information inputs for selecting a status indicator for individual affected facilities and infrastructure.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the information inputs comprise sensors coupled to the computer for providing real-time information.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a third map layer for displaying the real-time information on the selected map.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plume dispersion model executable on the computer; and

a fourth map layer for displaying an estimated plume resulting from the selected event on the selected map.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein affected infrastructure includes road intersections designated by the computer as traffic control points for traffic regulation in and around the estimated plume.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface coupled between the computer and a network, whereby an image of the first window is displayable on a remote display device.

10. A GIS-based system for analyzing actual and simulated events, comprising:

a user interface comprising;

a display window for displaying a selected GIS-based map and selected facilities and infrastructure; and

an user input device; and

a computer-executable GIS extension application interfaced with a GIS database, the application programmed to;

receive a user-selected event from the input device;

highlight a user-selected event location on the displayed selected map;

receive a user-selected cordon input from the input device;

in response to the cordon input, display a cordon area around the event location on the displayed selected map;

determine which displayed facilities and infrastructure are affected by the selected event; and

highlight the affected facilities and infrastructure on the displayed selected map.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein affected infrastructure includes road intersections designated by the application as traffic control points for traffic regulation in and around the cordon area.

12. The system of claim 10, the application further programmed to receive information inputs regarding a status of individual affected facilities and infrastructure.

13. The system of claim 12, the application further programmed to display a status indicator for individual affected facilities and infrastructure in response to the information inputs.

14. The system of claim 10, the application further programmed to:

generate a plume dispersion model; and

display on the selected map an estimated plume resulting from the plume dispersion model.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein affected infrastructure includes road intersections designated by the computer as traffic control points for traffic regulation in and around the estimated plume.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an interface for transmitting information to a remote display device on which an image of the display window is displayable.

17. A GIS-based method for analyzing actual and simulated events, comprising:

displaying a selected GIS-based map;

identifying on the map a location of a user-selected event;

displaying on the map a user-defined cordon area around the event location;

highlighting in the displayed cordoned area a first set of affected facilities and infrastructure;

highlighting in an area surrounding the displayed cordoned area a second set of affected facilities and infrastructure; and

in response to received information, changing a status of a highlighted facility or infrastructure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second sets of affected infrastructure include road intersections designated by the application as traffic control points for traffic regulation in and around the cordon area.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving information inputs regarding a status of individual affected facilities and infrastructure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying a status indicator for individual affected facilities and infrastructure in response to the information inputs.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating a plume dispersion model; and

displaying on the selected map an estimated plume resulting from the plume dispersion model.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising highlighting in an area surrounding the displayed estimated plume a third set of affected facilities and infrastructure, including road intersections designated as traffic control points for traffic regulation.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting information to a remote display device on which an image of the display window is displayable.