EFFECTIVE DEPLOY RELIEF USING SPATIAL REPORTING
The MFB, also known as the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, provides firefighting, rescue, medical and hazardous material incident response services to the Melbourne metropolitan area, safeguarding assets and infrastructure worth billions of dollars in an area of over 1,000 square kilometres to over 3 million people. The MFB’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, which collects information on the damage extent during an emergency event, was using paper-based reporting methods, with no spatial component. MFB recognised the gap in spatial reporting was affecting relief and recovery agencies’ abilities to respond effectively. The MFB needed a system that would be easy to use in the field with mobile data constraints and give the team the ability to collect and report damage data quickly, roll it up to a central system and see a common operating picture to help relief and recovery agencies direct resources.