Three friends from rural Illinois\u2014a 911 director with paramedic experience, a GIS professor with student researchers, and an emergency communications coordinator\u2014turned a cross-country meet incident into a pioneering indoor school mapping initiative.<\/p>\r\n
Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n The cross-country meet in Fulton County, Illinois, was supposed to be just another fall school event\u2014the kind where parents cheer and runners push their personal bests. Chris Helle was there supporting his son Ryan when the unexpected happened: Two adults got into a fistfight.<\/p>\r\n Helle immediately called 911. \u201cI'm at the cross-country field,\u201d he told the dispatcher. The response caught him off guard: \u201cWhere's that?\u201d He explained that the field was located behind the high school, but he struggled to think of cross streets or the fastest way to get there.<\/p>\r\n That moment of confusion\u2014a dispatcher unable to locate a specific location on a school site\u2014sparked school mapping standards that have transformed emergency response across Illinois.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Right","content":" Any map of indoor space beats going into a building blindly when seconds count. The difference between dynamic and static maps is most glaring when considering the added value of dynamic situational awareness that centers all actions around a shared map.<\/p>\r\n Traditional paper maps and PDFs become outdated the moment schools modify classrooms, add safety equipment, or change access points. They can't integrate with 911 dispatch systems, forcing operators to juggle multiple resources during crises. Static maps also can't be shared effectively across agencies during mutual aid responses.<\/p>\r\n The GIS map can be used to create static maps when needed, but a static map cannot be made dynamic in the moment. GIS-based dynamic maps provide real-time, actionable intelligence that integrates directly with computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems.<\/p>\r\n Telecommunicators can instantly see caller locations, guide responders to specific rooms, and coordinate multiagency responses on shared platforms. The public safety sector has established GIS data standards that ensure consistency, reliability, and interoperability across different agencies and technologies, fostering seamless communication and coordination during emergencies. Even outside emergencies, public safety can benefit from GIS maps for such things as preparedness exercises, developing and sharing preplans, and ensuring facility security and safety.<\/p>\r\n Maps built to GIS standards have applications beyond public safety, such as facility maintenance and space allocation, that add value to the initial investment. Granting building owners control empowers them to maintain accuracy and get the most use out of their map.<\/p>","snippet":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The need for accurate addresses to guide first responders has long been top of mind for Helle, who serves as both emergency management director and 911 coordinator for Fulton County. He and his fellow public safety answering point (PSAP) peers across Illinois have recently rolled out Next Generation 911<\/a> (NG911), converting analog systems to digital to improve location validation and emergency call routing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n What seemed like a simple matter\u2014how to quickly find someone in need on school grounds or in a building\u2014revealed a complex challenge emergency responders face daily. Traditional paper maps are often outdated, difficult to read under stress, and impossible to share effectively among agencies responding to the same emergency.<\/p>\r\n Helle knew the school well, because his kids went to elementary, middle, and high school on the same campus. This event helped him realize how complex navigation directions could be\u2014even for an insider. \u201cWhen you're looking at a map, baseball and softball fields look identical,\u201d Helle said. \u201cSo if a caller says, I'm near the concession stand, I'm near the football field, at least we've got a starting point.\u201d<\/p>\r\n When he thought about it some more, Helle realized that all PSAP telecommunicators and first responders have a critical gap when it comes to school safety and emergency response. He reached out to two geographic information system (GIS) technology specialists to improve Illinois mapping and addressing systems, enabling faster emergency response.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[756932,756942,756952,755982]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Phil McCarty, a 911 professional and director of the West Central Joint Dispatch Center, understood this challenge from a different angle. As a former paramedic who started in emergency management services (EMS) in 1995, he knew firsthand how precious time could slip away when responding to a call. \u201cI was lost all the time in Springfield and other places, not only in buildings but on the streets,\u201d McCarty said. \u201cI also understand how important saving time is for the person in distress and for stopping an incident.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Chad Sperry, director of the GIS Center at Western Illinois University, provided technical expertise and a group of students motivated to work on projects that impact their communities. \u201cThe students get hands-on real-world experience, and the harder the problem is, the better it looks on their r\u00e9sum\u00e9,\u201d Sperry said.<\/p>\r\n Helle brought operational expertise from his work with emergency services. McCarty contributed dispatch and EMS experience from managing responses across 1,100 square miles. Sperry brought technical expertise, a workforce, and experience running complex mapping projects.<\/p>\r\n The trio fueled each other\u2019s curiosity and each lent expertise to come up with a school safety solution that could work anywhere.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The team started with a critical insight: Effective emergency response requires maps that are both extremely detailed and immediately actionable. Traditional paper floor plans, even when available, often sat unused in filing cabinets or were so outdated they became dangerous.<\/p>\r\n Their solution used a handheld lidar scanner\u2014the same technology that helps self-driving cars \"see\" their environment\u2014to create precise 3D scans of school interiors. This became a basemap that could be edited in GIS to relate important details.<\/p>\r\n Every room in each school was identified by a number rather than a teacher\u2019s name. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to have a situation where somebody who calls in says, \u2018I\u2019m in Mrs. Beoletto\u2019s room,\u2019\u201d Helle said. \u201cBecause things change and she may now be teaching on the other side of the school.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The maps used color coding to distinguish different types of spaces\u2014classrooms in one color, restrooms in another, common areas in a third. The map led to further wayfinding advancements, including door numbers placed not just inside rooms but on exterior windows, allowing responders to identify specific locations even when setting up perimeters outside the building.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[755992,756012,756002]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Perhaps most importantly, every element of the map became what's called a \"dispatchable location\"\u2014meaning emergency dispatchers could route responders to specific points as easily as sending them to a street address. \u201cIf a caller says, \u2018I\u2019m at the auditorium in Farmington High School,\u2019 we don't need to put in 108 Lightfoot Road, Farmington, at the high school auditorium. Dispatch can enter Farmington High School auditorium and it will route them right there on the map. We common-named a lot of the more public areas to help callers use more relatable location information which dispatch can also find and use,\u201d Helle said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n These innovations have been tested in a few moments of crisis. The most significant test happened during what initially appeared to be an active shooter situation.<\/p>\r\n \u201cSomeone called 911 and said, \u2018I'm going to kill your high school students, I'm headed there now, and I've got a gun,\u2019\u201d Helle said. \u201cApproximately two minutes later, he calls back and you can hear shots being fired in the background, and he\u2019s using horribly foul language to describe the students he's going to kill.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The incident triggered responses from multiple agencies from across the county\u2014agencies that typically worked outside of this jurisdiction and weren't familiar with each other's jurisdictions. \u201cIt's not their community, so they likely didn\u2019t know the schools, and these heroes need to have an immediate understanding of where they are headed,\u201d Helle said.<\/p>\r\n The indoor mapping system showed all the responders the layout of every building, down to which doors to use.<\/p>\r\n \u201cIt helped coordinate their responses and check off where they had been. They called out every room they cleared. Dispatch and incident command on scene were able to track this in real time,\u201d Helle said. \u201cIndoor mapping becomes an extremely valuable tool when you have agencies who are not familiar with area schools but need to be. This affects law enforcement, EMS, and fire. All of these agencies need to be working with the 911 dispatcher seeing where other units are and using the same room numbers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Fortunately, the incident turned out to be a false alarm\u2014criminal harassment known as swatting. But the response revealed how effective the system could be when agencies needed to coordinate quickly across unfamiliar territory.<\/p>\r\n Another meaningful test came during a medical emergency. A student was choking in an elementary school, and the caller was able to provide a room number where help was needed.<\/p>\r\n \u201cThe room was on the far side of the building near a driveway,\u201d Helle said. \u201cThe responding ambulance and fire truck both drove up to that door, went into that doorway, and walked a few feet and found him. If they had used the main entrance, carrying all their heavy gear, it would have likely taken much more time.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Sperry estimated the system saved five minutes. \u201cI don't know that it saved a life, but it definitely improved response time, which is how success is measured in emergency response,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n One of the most important components of this effort is standardization\u2014ensuring that all responders, regardless of their home agency, could understand and use the maps effectively.<\/p>\r\n McCarty explained this concept using an unexpected analogy of the McDonald\u2019s arches. \u201cWhy do they look exactly the same around the world? Because they're communicating to the consumer, this is where you come,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you're communicating to first responders who may be arriving from across the state, standards help because they see the same words and symbols they\u2019re used to.\u201d<\/p>\r\n One of the most challenging aspects of creating these maps was determining how much information to include. The team realized they could map every fire extinguisher, AED defibrillator device, and electrical outlet, but more information isn't always better.<\/p>\r\n \u201cIf the map is so busy they can\u2019t find the rooms, then it\u2019s doing more harm than good,\u201d McCarty said. \u201cIt turns into white noise, and they start ignoring it. The more standardized we can keep it, and the more streamlined we can keep it, the better chance we have of a positive end result.\u201d<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[756072,756032,756062,756962,756052,756972]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The resulting maps were made to integrate seamlessly with existing emergency response technology. Dispatchers can see the same view as responders in the field, whether they're using computers in squad cars, tablets in ambulances, or mobile devices carried by individual officers.<\/p>\r\n \u201cEverybody sees the exact same map,\u201d Helle said. \u201cEverybody sees the exact same points.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The system also began incorporating new capabilities such as text-to-911, which provides location data that can be pinpointed to specific rooms within mapped buildings. This proved particularly valuable for mental health crises, where a less intrusive response approach is needed.<\/p>\r\n The success of school mapping naturally led to questions about other complex buildings. The team began exploring applications for hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and municipal buildings like courthouses. Many now have a detailed indoor map.<\/p>\r\n \u201cHere\u2019s a map of the courthouse,\u201d Helle said, showing how it contains floor plans of all floors. \u201cYou could easily have someone call in and say, \u2018I'm in the treasurer's office having chest pains.\u2019 The dispatcher may not know where the office is in that building, but now they do and can see the best way to get there.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Manufacturing facilities presented unique challenges due to proprietary information and changing floor layouts, but the team sees potential for mapping exterior access points, general building structure, and areas where hazardous materials are kept.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \t
Static Versus Dynamic Maps in Moments of Crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Mapping Simply and Clearly<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
The Technology Behind the Solution<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
When Theory Meets Crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
The Power of Standardization<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Fueled by NG911 Funds and Flexible Thinking<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n