Fall 2007 - Department Spotlight: Resource Vision and GTVC - What It Means To Burnsville
by Dan Carlson, Emergency Manager, City of Burnsville
Resource Vision and the Geographic Tool for Visualization and Collaboration (GTVC) are two separate yet interconnected pieces of the National Emergency Management Network (NEMN). Simply put, the NEMN allows subscribers to incident map using a variety of mapping servers, integrating universal or custom symbols and free text options. At the same time, assignment of local assets and resources to an incident from pre-built teams and databases can be made.
Resource Vision is a database model that allows agencies to input any database containing personnel, resources, volunteers, facilities, etc. The model is then used to build preset teams for use in disaster response. It can also be used for FEMA and National Incident Management System (NIMS) tracking for costing, availability, etc. The NEMN databases are populated by subscribers across the nation, and as more agencies come on-line, the available assets will increase. For Burnsville, it means having resources available to use from other agencies and allowing others to see and access our resources if needed elsewhere. All resources are NIMS compliant, and pre-coded for integration into NIMS forms for timely reimbursement if needed.
Geographic Tool for Visualization and Collaboration (GTVC) mapping interface connects all emergency responders via a collaborative map.
Aside from disaster response, the application has day to day, practical application for both pre-planned events as well as the emerging critical incident. The tracking feature of the GTVC software allows for playback later of the entire event as recorded, message posting, incident data tracking and layer mapping for each discipline which can be viewed or not as the operator selects.
As more Dakota County agencies come online with the NEMN, our ability to respond county wide to mutual aid requests for equipment and personnel will become more timely and tracked better with the use of this system.