DHS Webinars on Geospatial Technologies

In recent months, some of the most popular posts on this blog have been those featuring Power Point presentations which discuss geospatial and related technologies supporting the Emergency Services Sector (ESS). Sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), over the past six months these presentations have been augmented by a series of webinars. Now available at the FirstResponder.gov website, links to the event recordings are posted below:

• Maximizing Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) Tools and Features (March 27, 2013) 
• Accessing and Monitoring Weather Data to Aid Decision-Making during Hazardous Events (February 5, 2013) 
• Innovating with Social Media to Advance Homeland Security (December 20, 2012) 
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Special Events Management—A Case Study from the Democratic National Convention (November 12, 2012)

Comment: All the above webinars are available using the "Join Our Capacity Building Webinars!" button on upper right side bar of the FirstResponder.gov website home page. In the coming weeks, also look there for an event recorded on May 16, 2013: Tools and Technologies Supporting Hurricane Operations. Focused on GIS situational awareness tools, this presentation was given by Chris Penney (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) presenting on Hurrevac, Shane Hubbard (University of Iowa) presenting on HAZUS, and Richard Butgereit (Florida Division of Emergency Management). Sweet!

Camp Ripley, Minnesota - New Drone Facility

This past Friday, the Minnesota National Guard (MNNG) officially opened its state-of-the-art drone training facility at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. Although the MNNG has long been on the cutting edge of efforts to integrate drone capabilities into operations by the U.S. Armed Forces, as an emerging technology, those efforts were previously housed in "hand-me-down" facilities. Now, with this new $3.9 million building, the sprawling Camp Ripley and its large block of protected airspace will be one of the best drone training facilities in the nation. More below:

Minnesota National Guard Launches Its $3.9 Million Drone Facility 

(Check out the video)

(Star Tribune, May 17, 2013)

Camp Ripley Celebrates New Drone Base

(AM 1240 - WJON, May 17, 2013)

Full Size Picture Album on Imgur

Comment: As eluded to in the Star Tribune article, in the weeks leading up to the opening of the Camp Ripley facility, drones were a hot topic in the press, with the range of articles running from release of the world's smallest drone (insect size), to developments in the privacy battle. Ultimately, the use of this military developed technology by the general public - good or bad - will be framed the same way it has been for GPS. A reality driven entirely by the intentions of the end-user.

Lead photo: WJON

Follow-Me Friday: CARA, Button TrackR, ESS AVL, Sky Eye, and Nowhere to Run

"Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of the way," goes the saying. And since I'm on the stubborn side today and inclined to do neither the former, nor the latter, guess I'm stuck doing the "follow thing". From what I can tell, looks like that's a trend sweeping the planet. So follow along, as I follow a story line, about following...

Spies In the Kitchen: It has always freaked me out that potatoes have eyes. But, I've solved that problem by ensuring any member of that particular tuber family inhabiting my kitchen is locked away in a cupboard. Now, come to find out, I've got a bigger problem. Give the following story a once over, and you'll see what I mean:

The Fridge Has Eyes: CARA Gives Anything With a Camera Powers to See Faces, Age, Gender, More

(Fast Company, May 16, 2013)

"Honey, What Did You Do With My (Fill in the Blank)?"  OK, I follow where this story goes. But, I've got a question. Will this technology help me if I loose my marbles? Find out below:

New Coin-Sized Device and Smartphone App Helps Users Track and Find Their Lost Wallets, Keys, Phones, and More

(PRWeb, May 13, 2013)

Irony of Ironies. GPS tracking is increasingly becoming a cornerstone technology for "in the trenches" Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel. The technology has been deployed to track everything from firefighters in burning buildings, to not so nice folks out on parole. Turns out though, when GPS tracking gets bumped up a rung - there are some folks who are none too happy. And for good reason. Follow what I'm saying?

Police, Fire Unions Urge Limits on GPS in Emergency Vehicles

(The Columbus Dispatch, March 30, 2013)

From Chopper One - News at 11. Oh, goodie! Just what I've always wanted; yet another way to immortalize how truly cool I am by recording countless yottabytes of video that no one is ever going to watch because there is yottabytes of video. However, I've got to give the inventors of this drone the following pat on the back: Because the video is being recorded in the air (naturally) - it's pretty cool. Go for a fly-through below:

Your Very Own Drone, to Follow You Home

(C|NET, May 11, 2013)

Wigged Out.  Ah, shucks - looks like I will have to follow what Leslie Stahl of CBS has to say on 60 Minutes this weekend. Shock of shocks - face recognition is now good enough that there's nowhere to hide. You should probably follow me to the hills.

"Big Brother" is Big Business?

(CBS News, May 16, 2013)

Have a Great Weekend!

Lead photo: Fanpop

The New Google Maps Unveiled

Yesterday at the Google I/O Conference, Google unveiled its new Maps product.  The video and link below, tell the story.

Major Redesign of Google Maps Is Unveiled

(New York Times, May 15, 2013)

The New Google Maps Info Page

Comment: It's an unspoken truth - when individuals in the Emergency Services Sector want access to a quick and easy to use map, a visit to Google Maps will not be far behind. After reviewing news about the product that's going to be released - the question would be: why aren't we thinking about using Google's approach as the backbone of a national Common Operating Picture? Google is clearly in the lead when it comes to having command of "where" - for everything.

Esri and Geofeedia Form Partnership to Support the Emergency Services Sector

Back on April 2, 2013, GIS giant Esri and location-based social media front runner Geofeedia announced plans to form a partnership that will deliver an advanced situational awareness platform to the Emergency Services Sector (ESS). As envisioned, the end state product will be a real-time system that leverages the respective strength of each partner. A paragraph from the news release provides a sense of what features will be included:

The real-time data integration, searching and streaming will work across multiple social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, and Picasa. Geo-located tweets, photos, and videos can be viewed within the context of digital imagery, street networks, topography, and community base maps. The social data can be mashed up with other information such as public safety assets, city infrastructure, utility networks, hazardous materials, demographic data, and more. Additional dynamic data including weather, automated vehicle location, GPS, and traffic video camera feeds can be combined with social and map data. In addition, people can perform historical social media analysis to identify trends and patterns.

Expanded details about the project are slated for release at the Esri User Conference in July. Until then, information as known can be found using the links below:

Social Media Meets Emergency Response

(Connected World Magazine, May 1, 2013)

Esri and Geofeedia Expand Social Media with Location Analytics

(Esri News Release, April 2, 2013)

Social Media Solutions for Law Enforcement and Public Safety

(Geofeedia Law Enforcement Case Study, February 2013)

Comment: Convergence of real-time information flows for the benefit of the ESS gets closer with each passing day. Thus, roll-out of this product at San Diego should move us one step closer to that day. That's great news!

Lead graphic: Geofeedia

More on the Minnesota Marker

As previously mentioned on this site, since 2009, this blog's sponsor, SharedGeo, has been involved in an effort to develop a GPS compatible trail marker that can be used for emergency response. Yesterday, the mainstream press in Minnesota took notice of the project by making the Minnesota Marker front page news in the Pioneer Press. Information about these U.S. National Grid formatted location markers was also published in a local technology blog. Links to both can be found below:

Minnesota Marker Signs Might Look Funny - Until You're Lost and Need One

(May 13, 2013, Pioneer Press)

Lost in the Wild? ‘Minnesota Marker’ Signs Can Save You

(May 12, 2013)

Comment: For more than a year, "U.S. National Grid as the Response Language of Location" has been the second most popular idea needing national implementation according to FEMA's IdeaScale. Yet, here's an effort supporting that recommendation - forced to pass the hat for the "chicken feed funding" it needs to stay alive. Go figure.

Lead picture: Pioneer Press