Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (2005) 29(2): 93-113.
Emergency Response After 9/11:
The Potential of Real-Time 3D GIS for Quick
Emergency Response in Micro-Spatial Environments
Mei-Po Kwan and Jiyeong Lee
Abstract: Terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center (WTC)
in New York City and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, not only affected multi-level
structures in urban areas but also impacted upon their immediate environment at the
street level in ways that considerably reduced the speed of emergency response. In this
paper, we examine the potential of using real-time 3D GIS for the development and
implementation of GIS-based Intelligent Emergency Response Systems (GIERS) that aim at
facilitating quick emergency response to terrorist attacks on multi-level structures
(e.g. multi-story office buildings). We outline a system architecture and a network data
model that integrates the ground transportation system with the internal conduits within
multi-level structures into a navigable 3D GIS. We examine important implementation issues
of GIERS, especially the need for wireless and mobile deployment. Important decision
support functionalities of GIERS are also explored with particular reference to the
application of network-based shortest path algorithms. Finally, we present the results
of an experimental implementation of an integrated 3D network data model using a GIS
database of Franklin County, Ohio (USA). Our study shows that response delay within
multi-level structures can be much longer than delays incurred on the ground transportation
system, and GIERS have the potential for considerably reducing these delays.
Key Words: Emergency response; Intelligent GIS; 3D GIS; Spatial decision support
systems; Micro-spatial environments
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