Schools look to digital mapping for emergencies
More governments are spending for technology that gives emergency responders access to up-to-date floor plans of schools and other public buildings to reduce response times in an emergency.
The problem
Responders to a school emergency may be unfamiliar with the school’s layout or may be working from outdated maps with little detail, which can slow responses.
One solution
Some school districts are hiring companies to create digital maps that give responders critical information such as:
1. External door numbers
2. Room numbers, descriptions
3. Location of safety gear like fire extinguishers and defibrillators
4. Location of surveillance cameras (some systems allow remote access by responders)
5. In some cases, location data for 911 calls or handheld “panic buttons”
1
17
18
B107
MUSIC RM
20
5
B100
LIBRARY
COURTYARD
21
B106
4
19
CORRIDOR B
16
22
B105
3
2
B103
B104
B102 BIO LAB
B101 CHEM LAB
Maps are made with a true-north orientation atop aerial images; some may be overlaid with a grid showing coordinates
Sources: Critical Response Group; Geo-Comm Inc. / This diagram is notional and not intended to represent a specific school.
Schools look to digital mapping for emergencies
More governments are spending for technology that gives emergency responders access to up-to-date floor plans of schools and other public buildings to reduce response times in an emergency.
The problem
Responders to a school emergency may be unfamiliar with the school’s layout or may be working from outdated maps with little detail, which can slow responses.
One solution
Some school districts are hiring companies to create digital maps that give responders critical information such as:
1
17
18
B107
MUSIC RM
20
5
B100
LIBRARY
COURTYARD
21
B106
4
19
CORRIDOR B
22
B105
3
2
B103
B104
B102 BIO
B101 CHEM LAB
Maps are made with a true-north orientation atop aerial images; some may be overlaid with a grid showing coordinates
1. External door numbers
2. Room numbers, descriptions
3. Location of safety gear like fire extinguishers and defibrillators
4. Location of surveillance cameras (some systems allow remote access by responders)
5. In some cases, location data for 911 calls or handheld “panic buttons”
Sources: Critical Response Group; Geo-Comm Inc. /
This diagram is notional and not intended to represent a specific school.