Page 36 - PCPA Summer 2024 Bulletin Magazine

36
PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
Navigating Crisis with Precision:
The Emergence and Impact of
Critical Incident Mapping
In the face of emergencies in public
spaces such as schools, hospitals,
and shopping centers, the rapid
and efficient response of emergency
teams is crucial. The unfamiliarity of
first responders with an incident's
location can be a significant hurdle,
potentially impacting the critical
communication and efficiency
needed for each response. This is
where Critical Incident Mapping, also
known as Collaborative Response
Graphics, emerges as a beacon in this
chaos. Not to be confused with floor
plans, it's more than a simple map
of rooms; it's a lifeline that guides
first responders through unknown
corridors with precision and provides
a single common operating picture to
work from.
Origins: A Military Legacy for
Public Safety
To understand its current use case,
let's start from the beginning. The
roots of this innovative tool trace back
to US Military special operations.
Designed for navigating uncharted
terrains, Gridded Reference Graphics
(GRGs) have been utilized by our
Special Forces for the past few
decades and continue to be used in
operations today.
The overall concept is simple: every
map is equipped with a grid, labeled
with letters and numbers along the X
& Y coordinates. Doors are numbered,
buildings are labeled, and much
like a simple game of Battleship®
,
operators can use this information to
talk through a location, even if they've
never been there before. In recent
years, this technique has gracefully
transitioned into domestic use,
becoming an indispensable asset for
emergency responders nationwide.
The Challenges of Existing
Mapping Data
While schools and structures might
have some level of floor plans on file,
the usability of these existing floor
plans can often be limiting. Traditional
building blueprints and schematics
were never meant to be used to
communicate emergency response
and therefore often contain arbitrary
or invaluable data, making them hard
to understand during a crisis situation.
In addition, most of these existing
floor plans were created when the
building was established, so they are
not typically updated over time as
additions are made or renovations
take place, leaving them outdated.
According to the National Center
for Education Services, the average
age of public school buildings in the
United States is 42 years old.
Valuable Features of Emergency
Response Maps
To be effective in the field, Emergency
Response Maps typically incorporate
several essential elements:
•
 GeoRelevant Floorplans -
Outlining the basic building
structure and layout.
•
 Oriented True North - For better
comprehension and coordination.
•
 Detailed Grids and Templates -
These assist in spatial orientation
and communication.
NAVIGATING CRISIS WITH PRECISION:
THE EMERGENCE AND IMPACT OF CRITICAL INCIDENT MAPPING
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