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Project Goal
The goal was to integrate diverse geographic information (weather, critical infrastructure, fuels, etc) and detection intelligence within an ArcGIS Online Experience Builder application. This enhances situational awareness for emerging wildland fires, supporting timely and informed decision-making.Business Problem Solved
The primary business problem was the fragmented nature of information available during the initial stages of a wildland fire incident. Critical data (weather, infrastructure, fuels, detection) resided in disparate systems, hindering timely aggregation and vetting. This project solved this by creating a unified common operating picture within an hour of a new incident, providing decision-makers with a comprehensive and vetted understanding of the threat to critical assets and communities.
Technology Implemented
The solution was built and deployed within ArcGIS Online (AGOL). ArcGIS Online Experience Builder was the primary tool used for application development, integrating multiple ArcGIS Online Web Maps composed of hosted Feature Layers, Feature Layers from other AGOL Organizations and tile layers representing weather data, critical infrastructure, fuel models, and near real-time fire detection. Access and sharing are managed through ArcGIS Online Groups. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has a small ArcGIS footprint and has been able to leverage the minimal resources to support the citizens of Colorado.
Development Team Biography
The Wildland Fire Management Intelligence Unit at the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control is responsible for providing timely and accurate intelligence to support decision-making during wildland fire incidents. The unit gathers, analyzes, and disseminates critical information related to fire behavior, weather, resources, and potential threats to communities and infrastructure.
The Unit is led by Unit Chief Peter Vidmar and staffed by Boyd Lebeda, Emy Keeling, Kerry Koppes, and Michael Garcia.