Mobile and In-Vehicle Mapping

Information technology within an emergency vehicle is not a new concept. Police, fire, and emergency management agencies have used mobile data terminals (MDTs) for years. These systems were primarily limited to checks for outstanding warrants or driver's license status, text messages, and completing reports. Current technology advancements enable emergency response personnel to have at their disposal a total mobile office complete with wireless communications capabilities that can transmit/receive data from servers or carry huge amounts of needed information on the mobile data computer (MDC) within the vehicle when connectivity is lost.

The benefits of using Mobile GIS technology for mobile and in-vehicle mapping include

• Improved first responder situational awareness
• Access to a complete, easily shared common operating picture
• Accurate routing to incidents
• Immediate access to historical calls for the same address
• Access to extensive premise data (photos, preplans, floor plans, and hazmat issues)
• Ability to identify resource locations
• Automatic geocoding of data captured in the field