Choosing An Indoor Mapping Solution: What First Responders Need To Know

As indoor mapping technology, also known as critical incident mapping, emerges as a pivotal tool in public safety incident response, confusion abounds regarding key aspects such as essential technologies, relevant data, stakeholder involvement, and necessary integrations. Conflicting messages from vendors are exacerbating this confusion, leading to decision fatigue among agencies. This guide aims to cut through the noise and provide clear, informed recommendations on selecting the best indoor mapping solution for your agency.

Adopting indoor mapping technology can significantly enhance your agency’s operations by enabling first responders in the 9-1-1 center and in the field to accurately identify, locate, and navigate to incidents within large campuses and multi-story buildings. The right solution not only improves situational awareness and location intelligence but also helps reduce risk and save valuable time during emergency response.

Our goal is to dispel the myths and misinformation surrounding indoor mapping technology and guide you in making the most informed decisions for your organization. Here are the key features to consider when evaluating which solution to choose:

Data Quality: As caller location becomes more precise in Next Generation 9-1-1 environments, the importance of precision mapping data cannot be overstated. Indoor maps that fail to accurately represent the real world can lead to critical errors in locating incidents. Even slight discrepancies in mapping data can result in responders entering the wrong room, causing confusion, increasing risk, and adding precious seconds to response times.

At DATAMARK Technologies, a public safety GIS company, we recognize that highly accurate data is essential for effective incident response. Our indoor mapping services are designed to provide information that mirrors reality. When selecting a vendor, prioritize those capable of achieving centimeter-level data accuracy through advanced GIS solutions and meticulous data conversion processes. If data conversion is involved, scrutinize the methodologies used and how accuracy is verified against the actual building layout.

Integrations: First responders are often wary of adding more technology to their already complex processes. To avoid this, agencies should seek applications that seamlessly integrate with their existing systems. For instance, DATAMARK Technologies INSIDE integrates effortlessly with users’ existing CAD and call handling equipment, ensuring ease of use and a streamlined workflow.

Situational Awareness and Location Intelligence: To enhance first responders’ ability to identify and prepare for incidents on campuses and in multi-story buildings, indoor mapping applications must offer more than just room numbers and building names. Look for solutions that incorporate CCTV camera feeds, 360-degree imagery of every room, panic buttons, alarm systems, badge systems, and more. These features can save time and lives when seconds matter most, and they also enable campus and facility security personnel to manage disparate systems directly from the application.

Floor-Aware Maps: Buildings that necessitate indoor maps are often complex, intricate, and multi-story. During a crisis, first responders must be able to swiftly identify incidents across multiple floors. Many current vendors offer simple PDF maps or require users to navigate GIS data by turning floor layers on and off without 3D or floor-aware capabilities, posing significant challenges when incidents occur on higher floors. Expecting responders to sift through numerous PDFs is impractical. Instead, opt for a solution that integrates all floors, allowing responders to easily navigate to the incident location.

Consistent Updates: Building details are constantly evolving, which means your indoor mapping solution could be outdated when you need it most. This can lead to increased risk, longer response times, and potential misroutes for response teams. Selecting a solution that allows real-time updates by campus and facility stakeholders mitigates these risks and ensures that responders have access to the most current information.

Create A Common Operating Picture: For effective collaboration during incident response, first responders in the field and the 9-1-1 center must access the same data. Incidents requiring backup from neighboring jurisdictions may also necessitate access to a locality’s indoor maps. Therefore, choosing a solution that unifies all stakeholders can facilitate response processes at scale while keeping everyone informed.

Selecting the right indoor mapping solution and partner is paramount for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of first responders. By prioritizing data quality, seamless integrations, situational awareness, and real-time updates, agencies can ensure they are equipped with the most accurate and up-to-date information. This not only improves response times and reduces risk but also fosters a unified approach to incident management. As the landscape of public safety technology continues to evolve, making informed decisions today will pave the way for a safer and more responsive tomorrow. DATAMARK Technologies is ready to assist and offers the highest quality tools that are purpose-built for public safety, ensuring that your agency is always prepared for any situation.