Simply put, GIS is one of the most important and useful tools when responding to a natural disaster. The centralized, readily-available, and highly accurate spatial information offered by a GIS helps to simplify data management and lessen the time taken to respond with the appropriate actions in order to alleviate threats during an unexpected event.
Whether you’re attempting to maintain telecommunications, electric, water, or other utilities during a natural disaster, the centralized database of information offered by a GIS proves imperative for outage management, distribution management, and other systems used in responding to these types of events, when every second is on the line. For example, having a field technician sort through outdated maps to create a plan is much less efficient than simply having access to a GIS, where network information and assets are shared and updated continually.
The ability to access accurate, up-to-date Fiber Maps in GIS, integrated with data on the disaster itself, brings value-added functionality to cities looking to be proactive in their disaster preparations and mitigation efforts. For example, let’s say that a brush fire was spreading in the area. A telecom GIS map could be used to determine which telecom assets are in critical danger so that the necessary shut off and restoration protocols can be completed. By utilizing telecom GIS data, the assets needed to be shut off can be isolated to limit the amount of customers affected.
GeoTel Communications’ web-based GIS product, TeleTracker, offers online database access to 12 telecommunications data sets and over 1,300 other regularly updated data sets. From a single interface, users can access, visualize, and report on all available information to quickly clarify a variety of scenarios. Call 407.788.8888 today to learn how your city can benefit from our online database access to telecom GIS data and fiber network maps.
