Smart City Framework: The Role of GIS Technology

GIS technology safeguards residents' protection and health while maintaining their freedom to drive, work, and enjoy the essential quality of life necessities when used as part of a broader smart city system.

FREMONT, CA: GIS (Geographic Information System) has become ingrained in everyday routines. GIS technology is familiar to anyone who has flown, used a vehicle's GPS, or granted location permission to a mobile app.

GIS was once used mainly by planners, architects, and infrastructure engineers, but a much wider range of people now uses it. GIS technology is used by agricultural producers with massive farming operations to grow, harvest, and irrigate crops. Meteorologists use GIS to monitor and identify potentially destructive storms, while recovery teams use it to document damage and affect locations. GIS technology safeguards residents' protection and health while maintaining their freedom to drive, work, and enjoy the essential quality of life necessities when used as part of a broader smart city system.

Public Safety: Identifying Threats and Speeding Up Response

People use GIS technology to support themselves, but first responders still use it to assist citizens. Drivers can use in-vehicle GPS systems to get directions, and they can also help law enforcement find missing or stolen cars. Crash warning systems not only give drivers a sense of security, but they also warn call centers and provide coordinates in the event of an emergency.

GIS technology is an important part of most computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, and it will continue to grow as more organizations adopt Next Generation 911. First responders will collect a wealth of information about a call before they arrive, depending on an agency's GIS capabilities. The use of spatial data and pinpoint mapping eliminates any ambiguity about the location of a call and speeds up response times. 3D modeling, when paired with location-based searches of live video feeds from nearby cameras, may provide full situational awareness. These capabilities give responders and possible victims a visual preview of a potentially dangerous situation or damaged structure.

Responders may use a GIS to determine the availability and position of field units whether they are at a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or in the field. When accessed by mobile devices, the same technology will improve real-time decision-making and ensure that the correct amount of resources are sent to the scene. In addition, a GIS allows for real-time monitoring of events and accidents as they occur. When paired with artificial intelligence, this study demonstrates how agencies can detect and interfere in disruptive events sooner, reducing the effects on people and economies.