As part of the informational presentations given at the National States Geographic Information Council's (NSGIC) Mid-Year National Conference, David Alexander, Acting Director of Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Geospatial Management Office (GMO), provided an update on geospatial efforts underway at DHS. Of note, the PowerPoint highlighted three developments of significance:
- The National Exercise and Simulation Center (NESC) has been funded. Mission: "To enhance the Department’s all‐hazards preparedness and response mission through the promotion of effective and efficient large‐scale exercises and the application of modeling and simulation to these exercises."
- National Level Exercise 2011 generated 12 learning points that will significantly impact future development of geospatial technologies and approaches at DHS.
- Later this year, expect training on the Federal Interagency Geospatial Concept of Operations (GeoCONOPS) to become available online.
In addition to the points mentioned above, the final slides of the presentation provided information about the DHS Geospatial Infrastructure Architecture. To learn more about these developments use the link below to review the PowerPoint:
Comment: The danger here is two fold. 1.) That local, regional and State geospatial communities go to sleep at the wheel thinking DHS has everything under control. Maybe, but I would suggest a strong dose of skepticism. Building anything from the top down is problematic from the get-go. What DHS is doing is very important but non-federal partners need a place at the table - along with the funding, personnel and equipment to make the system (data) work from the bottom up. 2.) So, the Feds have a GeoCONOPS for their operations, what does your local, regional, or State GeoCONOPS look like? Ya, I thought so. You may want to think about putting development of that one in a budget request next time you have the opportunity.
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