GeoFES is an operational guidance system for emergency responders that provides information and predictions based on GIS. Version 4.2 supports unit leaders and crisis teams, while version 5.0 will be fully server-enabled, have a new interface, support web browsers, integrate additional modeling programs, and support smart devices. It aims to help commanders overcome the initial chaos of an emergency and make informed decisions by providing comprehensive, current, and interpretable information and reliable predictions.

1. GeoFES 4.2 (coming soon: 5.0)
Operational guidance
system for unit leaders,
technical TF leaders and
crisis management
teams based on GIS
Sources: Berliner Feuerwehr, Stefan Rasch, Detlef Machmüller
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2. Motivation
• Mission control must be capable of overcoming the „chaos
phase“ and getting ahead of the situation quickly.
• The aim is to move from reaction to action.
• In order to act, sound information and reliable prognoses are
needed
Requirements
• Information must be • Prognoses must be
 comprehensive,  appropriate,
 current,  easy to generate,
 swift,  sufficiently accurate and
 accessible,  quickly available.
 summable, and
 interpretable in a decision-related way.
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3. In „regular“ operations, an operations
commander may face the following
questions:…
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4.  What are the surroundings of the operation
site like, are fire service plans available for
objects at risk, and where can I find them
quickly?
 Where is the closest hydrant?
 How long is the hose line needed?
 Where to place the booster pumps?
 Are any hazardous substances close by?
 How many persons are listed as residents in a
building?
 Which property is the operation taking place at
and who is the owner?
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5. Technical TF leaders and crisis management
are confronted with various additional
questions …
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6.  Where is a suited assembly area?
 Where do I best form my operation sections?
 Which extent could the threat take on (if a dam
fails, or in case of explosion or pollutant dispersal)?
 Is it necessary to evacuate, and if yes, how many
persons are inside the risk area?
 Where to evacuate to? (where are the closest
gyms, hotels, … what are their acceptance
capacities?
 Where do barriers need to be set up?
 Where should casulties be transferred? Where is
the closest hospital with a particular specialization?
 Which the operational vehicles to be supplied next?
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7. GeoFES supports you finding the various answers – the
DSS for unit leaders, technical TF leaders and crisis
management teams
• DSS for daily operation, major and areal
damage events e.g. following accidents,
flood events and bomb alerts
• Mobile and stationary (server-based)
solution
• Desktop and web (vers. 5 or higher)
• As easy as google or bing, but with much
greater performance
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8. Classification and data exchange
Control center - mobile command post - central
crisis management team
Central crisis
Control management
center team
(e.g. fire service,
county or utilily)
Transmission of operation Generel Information exchange
specifications with • Operation Overview (Map based)
• Number • Allocated Ressources
• Keyword • Overview of Damages and Risks
• Operation site • Status messages
• Operation time
Transmission of
specifications on
resources with
• Vehicle type
• Vehicle ID Mobile command post (unit
• Staffing leader or technical UL)
• Departure time
• Origin
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9. GeoFES-functional blocks
Registration and configuration
Site info/factual info
Operation management
Localisation Analysis area Analysis
Operation info Operation guidance
Operation journal
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10. GeoFES user interface
1: Task field
2: Tasks
3: Input field for
selected tasks
Werkzeuge und Schalter
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11. Architecture
“Offline” Browser “Online”
WebServer
Services
Geodata server
Data (geo+
operation)
Internet Internet
Geodata local Operational and
geo data in
Export/replication
database server
11

12. Registration and configuration
Administration
Who should be
permitted which views
or actions?
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13. Data integration by administration
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14. Site information/factual
information
GreenInfo as high-
Map object related performance tool
information
• Selected
• Closest
• Inside analysis area
• Inside map area
• Text search
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15. Operation
Operations …
• Create
• Administrate
• Edit
• Finish
• Continue
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16. Localisation
Localising operation site by …
• addresses
• intersections
• stations
• objects
• water bodies
• motorways
But also
• interactive
• user specific
objects
Desirable:
Information about
interface from
control center
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17. Analysis area
Define analysis area by …
• radius
• polygon
• region
• buffer
• modelling
(chemical substances
in the air)
Puffer
Modelling pollutants dispersion
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18. Analysis area
HWSIM – Flood simulation
3
1
2
• Very rapid simulation of
water propagation due to
overflow, dam breach and/or
construction failure
• Complete integration into
GeoFES
• Ad-hoc adoption of flooded
areas as hazard areas
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19. Analysis
Hazard areas can be analysed by …
• random themes and objects
• operation resources
• risks and hazards
• measures
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20. Analysis
Analysis results can be …
• transformed into checklists
• sent by emails
• or printed
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21. Situation maps
Creation of situation maps …
• per button
• send by email with another click
• smartboard support
• Interactive drawing
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22. Operation
management
Administration of …
• action forces
• operation resources
• risks
• damage
• measures
• operation sections
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23. Generating and publishing reports
Publishing in form of
printouts, email
attachments and/or
webservices, respectively
• situation maps
• forces and resources
• analysis results
• checklists
• object information
• operation journal
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24. Operartion journal
Operation journal for …
• documentation
• analysis
• postprocessing
of the operation
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25. What you may also find interesting:
Version 5.0 coming soon
• Fully server enabled (ORACLE, MS SQL server, DB2
together with ArcGIS server)
• New user interface (Ribbon style)
• Web browser enabled
• Integration calculation program for radiologic
Problems next to calculation programs for flooding
and chemical substances
• Integration of smart devices (ipad, iphone, w-
mobile)
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26. Version 5.0
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27. Version 5.0
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28. Version 5.0
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29. Version 5.0
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30. Version 5.0
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31. Version 5.0
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32. The following
additional
features are
available 
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