GPS and Emergency Disaster Management

Global Positioning System (GPS) is an integral part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GPS information can be used to perform various functions from predictive disaster management to disaster mitigation. The data from GPS is used to provide emergency managers with the information they need to make decisions by integrating the data into a database that can be graphically represented. GIS programs, such as ESRI, can be used to disseminate and filter data for emergency managers so they can efficiently and effectively utilize resources. ESRI has used their GIS program to assist agencies such as FEMA, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Weather Service to manage emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. The following web sites show some of the data that has been supported in calendar year 2008:

http://www.esri.com/disaster_response/hurricane_cyclone_support2008.html
http://www.esri.com/disaster_response/wildlandfire_support2008.html
http://www.esri.com/disaster_response/tornado_support2008.html

Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS)

One particular application of interest using GPS is the tracking of wildfires. The Fire Information for Resource Management System provides worldwide tracking of fires through a tool called Web Fire Mapper. With the Web Fire Mapper and the integration of GPS information, the identification and tracking of fires can be monitored on a near real-time basis. By having the ability to monitor fires, wildfire emergency managers can make decisions based on empirical information to utilize potentially limited resources in the most efficient manner possible.

The map at the top of this blog shows wildfires that have started and have been identified in North America during the past 24 hours (the map data was retrieved August 30, 2008 at 11:00 p.m. Arizona time from http://maps.geog.umd.edu/website/Activefire_HTML/viewer.htm?MAP=US-ArcIMSparam&DATALIST=,wc,wco,cus,mafd24,mafd7d,ER,&BANNER=US_banner&ele_fire=fireAims&requiredMap=USA).

Additional fire tracking information can be obtained from the FIRMS website.

http://maps.geog.umd.edu/firms/

Globalstar Satellite Phones
Several Emergency Preparedness programs in Arizona, such as county and tribal organziations, purchased Globalstar satellite phones a couple of years ago to aid in communications coverage. This was especially critical for remote areas where cell phone coverage was minimal or non-existant.

Globalstar decided to improve coverage by launching additional satellites, however doing so would reduce signal strength making sat phones inoperable at times. At this time, they are experiencing difficulty and hope to become fully operational by late 2009. According to the constellation update, theTwo-Way Voice and Duplex Data Services have been affected.

The Two-Way Voice is basically the cellular and satellite phone service. The Duplex Data Service delivers digital data communications using CDMA technology and the Globalstar constellation made up of Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellites. The Globalstar GSP-1620 SDM (Satellite Digital Modem) provides two-way Internet communications with land or marine based equipment via Direct Dial-Up or Direct Internet access. This capability can be found in mobile tactical packages allowing internet connectivity through satellite phones, which is quite useful in the field. This capability allows for effiency and productivity while out in the field using communications equipment such as mobile tactical packages.

Globalstar has offered discounts on service to agencies who have made formal requests. In addition, Globalstar is offering a tool located on its website to show when satellites will be overhead for a specific geographic location to have phone coverage. The tool is called the Optimum Satellite Availability T-tool (OSAT). Please visit Globalstar at http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/index.php and click on Optimum Satellite Availibility Tool

Globalstar also provides a Simplex Modem, which mainly transmits and can be programmed to send data to an end location, via a website or to an email address. This capability is fully operational at this time working off the upgraded satellite network system (Globalstar 2nd Generation Constellation) functioning with GPS capability. This capability would be especially useful in tracking critical supplies, such as SNS assets, or tracking armed escorts.

For more information on Globalstar visit the above-mentioned link or call customer service for more information on previously mentioned discounts.

Sources include Globalstar 2008.

Picture from Microsoft Clips

GPS Protecting Endangered Species

According to Endangered Species International, "many species vanished in five cataclysmic mass extinctions and today, 99.9 percent of all species that have existed on Earth are extinct." When species die, along with it goes the ecological roles it played in the ecosystem, such as pollination, air purification, or soil preservation. We also lose possible medicinal elements for future research, the services of the natural environment that through a homeostatic process replaces what it lost, like clean air and water, which we need to survive.

What the GPS allows is for us to observe and protect all kinds of animals, animals that swim or run faster than us or will maul us if we get too close. Ah yes, the burdening potential to be stalked by ex-lovers or your over-protective father, well animals, such as brown bears, penguins, Hawaiian monk seals, and sperm whales, have been stalked around the clock using tracking devices, such as the GPS, and something even cooler, the National Geographic's Critter Cam.

Marine biologist, Greg Marshall, revolutionized the way scientists and animal conservationists can study and protect all kinds of "hard-to-get-to" animals, particularly sea creatures using the Critter Cam. www.nationalgeographic.com/crittercam/ This camera is attached to animals in the most convenient location possible, and they are set off into the wild. Note, scientists attach the camera as securely as possible and pray the animal does not smash it off since one can cost up to $13,000 US dollars and all data is lost.

The coolest aspect about Critter Cam is not only does it video record the animals daily routine, but it also tracks the animals to exactly where scientists have always pondered about. The research found using the camera on Hawaiian monk seals is a great example of a how endangered species can be protected. The Critter Cam led scientists to a remote feeding location in the deep sea, which is now protected by the federal government.


http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/overview.html?gclid=CMT_9fyCt5UCFRsRagodEwd7QA
http://www.wildlifenews.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlife_news.view_article&articles_id=45&issue_id=7
http://www.gps.gov/applications/environment/index.html

Picture: Accessed http://www.uas.alaska.edu/infocus/archives/media/seal/seal.jpg on August 31 2008

USGS Uses GPS to Help Analyze Levee Failure in New Orleans

As the ominous, and literal, dark cloud of Hurricane Gustav threatens the city of New Orleans, preparation and preparedness remain great issues of concern for the vulnerable city. With 75% of the city flooded and over 1800 deaths resulting from the 2005 natural disaster and the failure of the city's engineered levee system as well, questions lingered on how such a failure could occur and how to prevent it in the future.

According to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) articles published in the agency's online newsletters, shortly after the devastating storm ran ashore on August 29, 2005, scientists collected high-resolution scans of several levee breaches along various canals, which resulted in severe flooding and damage. The scans, collected at the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, used a "ground-based terrestrial laser-mapping system" to survey the breaches and examine how both structural and soil degradation contributed to the monumental failure. After analysis by a number of agencies was complete, the finding were presented to the US senate. Several months later, a USGS team returned to the city to collect and ultimately attach Global Positioning System (GPS) data to the scans. GPS uses 24 satellites that circle the globe every 12 hours at 12,000 miles above earth, continually collecting and transmitting the satellites exact time and location in space (Pine, 83). When the satellites' radio signal is transmitted to receivers, a variety of precise information can be collected, tracked, mapped and categorized.

The USGS team visited the same area where the scans were originally collected used GPS to assign geographic coordinates to the scans. Because the original scans were often collected in the path of emergency responders and thus at a rapid pace, accurate "registration points", or actual geographic coordinates, were not included at that time. In order to revisit the sites, the team examined the scans for potential location points that might still be available as many of the areas had been under repair and altered since original collection. After determining 3-dimensional structures that would hopefully still be available, the USGS team headed out to collect the points. With the use of GPS points, data was assigned to within centimeter accuracy of the registration point.

Upon completion of the registration process, the information was provided to numerous agencies in order to aid in the repair process of the levee system. Specifically, the data was used in conjunction with geographic information system (GIS) to depict the conditions in areas where the levees failed as well as with geotechnical drilling information to examine how the terrain and geology impacted the levee failure. The registered points will also be used to help with current concerns of inaccurate floodwall elevation data. Due to soil variance causing the current, "fixed" benchmarks to sink sometimes more than a foot, the newly collected GPS points will provide a more accurate measurement of the floodwall elevation.
Although too late for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, hopefully science and government still have time for future generations of the gulf coast region.


Sources: soundwaves.usgs.gov/2006/05/>
soundwaves.usgs.gov/2005/01/ >
Pine GIS and GPS, 2007
Photo from cmurray - breach at 17th street canal, 2005

GPS and Drinking Water Wells

Many people depend on wells for their drinking water wells. Location, location, location, it is important the wells are installed according to certain criteria to avoid contamination.

Need water

Refugees left Sudan due to the violents in Darfur to Chad. Chad lacked drinking water so scientist used GPS to find to right place to install drinking water wells. GPS has the ability to pin point with accuracy and avoid the costly expense of drilling in the wrong place.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2004-09-19-waterseek_x.htm

Natural Disaster

GPS is used in Land Planning to avoid installation of drinking water wells in certain areas that could directly and indirectly cause contamination. Flood is probably the most destructive because it is usually wide spread and frequent natural hazard that happen around the world. Using GPS to map flood plains allows developers to choose land that is better suited. These flood prone areas could be avoided and land that is on higher ground would be a better option.
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/natural_hazards/floods/ma03138pf.htm

The 2008 Midwest Floods was a huge example of how drinking water wells can be contaminated from flooding water. People learn that it isn’t that easy to run to store to get bottled water, especially when you can’t exactly get to the store.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25020185/

Photo retrieved August 29, 2008 from http://www.kvnews.com/

GPS and the Strategic National Stockpile

“A critical component of any successful rescue operation is time. Knowing the precise location of landmarks, streets, buildings, emergency service resources, and disaster relief sites reduces that time -- and saves lives. This information is critical to disaster relief teams and public safety personnel in order to protect life…” http://www.gps.gov/applications/safety/index.html

The Strategic National Stockpile is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. The Strategic National Stockpile exists to provide medical supplies to disaster and infectious outbreak victims. Congress provided funds for the Strategic National Stockpile in 1998. The Strategic National Stockpile is designed to provide both pharmaceuticals and vaccines for biological, disease, and chemical threats to citizens. Hundreds of millions of dollars of pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment, and technical personnel are part of the National Strategic Stockpile.

The Strategic National Stockpile is stored as 12-hour push packages. The push packages weigh nearly 50 tons and fill 130 cargo containers. They can arrive at an airfield in 12 hours or be delivered by truck. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3912/is_200608/ai_n17183189

Once hospital administrators determine a need for pharmaceuticals from the Strategic National Stockpile there are many geographical considerations that must be determined in finding a location to warehouse these supplies.
· Safest area for storage of the stockpile, the hospital’s susceptibility to the disaster, the hospital many need to relocate to avoid becoming part of the disaster,
· The accessibility of the hospital, if people cannot access the hospital, the hospital many need to relocate to provide medical attention, and
· Perimeter of the area affected by the disaster
GPS data could be used to determine the best solutions to these concerns. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPC/is_12_29/ai_n15965817

GPS Vulnerabilities

Source: Retrieved from http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html, 29-Aug-08.









As with most signals that are transmitted within the Radio-Frequency (RF) spectrum, the many valuable uses of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals can be denied by anybody with access to the right resources. GPS has very many commercial and military applications, from assisting one in navigating a vehicle on a long-distance road-trip to guiding a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) dropped from a military aircraft to its target. With GPS being such a force-multiplier on today's military battlefield, it is easy to see why an adversary may attempt to deny its use. One concern in the forefront of today's military is adversary employment of GPS jamming.


How can one jam GPS? To begin, anybody desiring to jam GPS is at a power advantage from the beginning. Jamming RF signals in simplistic terms is basically a power battle, sometimes referred to as Jam-To-Signal or J/S ratio. If the J/S ratio is greater than 1, there is more jammer energy going into the victim receiver than the signal itself that the jammer is competing with to overpower. If the J/S ratio is less than 1, then the jammer loses the power battle with the victim receiver and thus does not jam the signal. There are 24 GPS satellites in Medium Earth Orbit transmitting two microwave (D-band) carrier signals, the L1 at 1.57542 GHz and the L2 at 1.2276 Ghz. Due to the relative low power of the transmitted GPS signals and the signal attenuation (power loss as the signal travels from MEO through the atmosphere to the receiver on the earth's surface), the power level of the GPS signal at the reciever on the earth's surface is approximately -160 dBm. This equates to roughly 1/1000 of the power level emitted from a small FM radio station. Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html. Due to the amount of power transmitted from GPS satellites being so small when the signal arrives at the reciever, it is clear that a more powerful signal transmitted on the GPS frequencies from the earth's surface nearer to the victim GPS receiver (s) can overpower the signal transmitted from the satellite.

GPS jamming can occur from harmonic interference from commercial TV stations and cellular telephone towers, and more maliciously from a hostile adversary with intent to do so. Using a low power jammer radiating a psuedo-noise technique can cause a GPS receiver to "break-lock" from a large distance away. To put this in perspective, a 1W jammer (roughly equivalent to the power of a handheld cellular phone) can deny the use of the L1 signal (common commercial GPS receivers) from 32NM away! Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html. Military GPS receivers capable of locking onto the encrypted P(Y) code (transmitted on the L1 and L2 carriers) are more resiliant to jamming and require approximately 100W of jamming power at 10NM to "break-lock". Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html.

There are many concerns regarding how an adversary may choose to exploit GPS vulnerabilities or use GPS to aid them. Some of these concerns include the use of GPS for calibration of ballistic missiles, outfitting 1950s-1960s weapons technology w/ GPS receivers to aid accuracy, or terrorists outfitting or using aircraft equipped with GPS to attack Western targets. In a domestic setting, denial of GPS could have significant impact to a variety of commercial industries, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies due to the increasing numbers of applications that are becoming commonplace. Civil aviation could be a target for GPS jamming, however; most aircraft rely on redundant navigation systems (INS, VOR/TACAN) which would allow the aircrew or pilot to work through the problem. Many commercial communications systems (celluar for example) rely on GPS timing synchronization which could present a vulnerability. Further testing is required to determine specific effects. See paper posted: http://www.gmat.unsw.edu.au/snap/publications/khan&dempster2007a.pdf

Now that the vulnerabilities have been mentioned, it is important to note that there are measures being implemented to prevent the vulnerabilities from being exploited. As with many targets of electronic attack, adversaries continuously work to improve the electronic protection features of various targeted signal types. From a U.S. standpoint, one measure that could be used in a conflict against an adversary that is expected to exploit GPS for the purposes of using it against us would be to jam the enemy's use of the Course Acquisition C/A code while using jam resistant receivers (U.S. equipment) that are only using the encrypted P(Y) code. There are various emerging technologies that are used to reduce the vulnerability of receivers to GPS jamming. These include Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) which electronically form beams in the direction of the satellites to boost the signal relative to the jamming signal. Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html. Additionally, adding what is called a Nuller to the GPS receiver antenna allows the reciever to suppress its sensitivity in the direction of the detected jamming signal, thus allowing the real signal from the satellite to get through. Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html. The combination of CRPA and Nuller technology working together can provide approximately a 50 dB improvment in protection against jamming. This difference results in a jammer now has to be only a few miles away from the victim receiver while putting out several kW (significantly more power!) of power to be effective. These type of protection technologies will continue to reduce the amount of vulnerabilites to the ever expanding use of GPS in both commercial and military applications. As this technology proliferates, we can expect jammer technology to become increasingly available to military adversaries and terrorists. See article on homemade GPS jammers: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=77702&pageNumber=2

References:
http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-GPS-Guided-Weps.html
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=77702&pageNumber=2
http://www.gpsjammers.net/
http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/nav/labjam.pdf

GPS and Law Enforcement Applications

For years now, the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been used for many purposes, including military applications, navigation and as a law enforcement aid.

GPS uses 24 satellites at an extremely high altitude, well outside of the atmosphere, to pinpoint the location of a receiver on the ground. Through the process of triangulation (judging the distance from 4, or more, separate satellites) the receiver is able to plot it's near exact location. This is made possible by the receiver being able to judge how far away it is from specifically located satellites at any given time by timing the radio signal being transmitted from each satellite. http://gpsscales.com/intro.htm

The ability to locate a receiver with an extremely small margin of error on the ground has led to many practical uses for the system, especially in law enforcement. One such practical use is in being able to determine the location of police officers during either routine operations or times of crisis.

A police officer may often be faced with extraordinary circumstances without warning. These circumstances can include anything from pulling up on a fight in the street to fighting for their lives at the drop of a hat. Should that police officer be unable, be it due to injury, time constraints or any other factor, to broadcast a sufficient message indicating location, GPS can provide that information to other officers in the area. The ability to provide this assistance is invaluable to a officer in dire need of help.

Not only can GPS can also be used as an office safety tool, it can also be used for a myriad of other law enforcement related functions. One example is being able to pinpoint which officers is closest to a particular location thus providing more timely response to emergency calls and better management of assets. Another example is for tracking, be it a particular individual, such as a sex offender, or a particular vehicle, such as a bait car used to apprehend car thieves. GPS can also be used to keep track of multiple officers and other emergency responders during a large scale crisis. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/technology/gps/techgp0042b.htm

Of course, this type of technology has also bred questions about privacy leading to legal considerations. One such issue is the tracking of suspect vehicles through the use of GPS. How the device is installed, where the vehicle is when it is installed and even where the vehicle is while it is being tracked have been called into question. This is but one example of how this growing technology may be questionned over time as it is used in a law enforcement capacity. http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2007/july2007/july2007leb.htm#page25

Though GPS will continue to experience growing pains as it is used more frequently in the law enforcement realm, it's negatives seem to be far outweighed by the benefits.

*photo of globe and satellites retrieved 29 Aug 2008 from gpsvehiclenavigation.com

*photo of police car retrieved 29 Aug 2008 from form1.static.flickr.com

GPS and Fire Management

In almost every part of the country, the threat from wildfires exists. With ever expanding cities and developments, this threat has been increasing, and only made worse by extensive droughts across certain parts of the country. As the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association points out, http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2007/fire07.html on average over the past 10 years, there have been an average of over 78,000 wildfires in the United States, burning an average of over 7,000,000 acres a year.

To counter this threat, the emerging technology of GPS can be used to aid both civlians and emergency responders, in an effort to minimize the risk to people and structures. As the following websites show, there are technologies available now that can use GPS on aircraft combined with infrared scanners to create maps of wildfires within minutes, and transmit them to responders in the field. With this technology, real time maps of fires and their "hot spots" will help responders and emergency managers better manage fires, and also be able to safely and more effectively place front line responders.

http://www.gps.gov/applications/safety/index.html

In addition to the location of fires, using GPS to locate vehicles can also be used in wildfire management. By using GPS, emergency vehicles can be tracked, as well as civilian vehicles that may need to be tracked. www.gpstrackingsystems.biz

The application of GPS use for wildfires has already been tried and tested, specifically in Southern California, which is plagued by raging wildfires almost every year. For example, firefighters in the California area in 2003 were able to get up to the minute data on fire locations thanks to GPS, as opposed to hours old data from morning briefings. With so many structures so close to wild land, the threat is real for people lving on the brink. But with these emerging technologies, handheld GPS technologies can and should be available for every responder on the ground, giving them real time data that can save lives and money.

http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/Fire_Mapping_Patterson.swf

*photo retrieved on August 28th from www.gpstrakingsystem.biz

GPS - GIS Vehicle Tracking

I really could not go into discussing GPS – GIS vehicle tracking systems without first going into some history of how the GPS system came into existence.

GPS systems have long been used by the military starting in 1978 when the DOD launched its’ first generation of Block I satellites to pinpoint ships and missile silos. GPS satellite systems have come a long way from the early Block I series, and are currently at the Block IIF series launched in 2005. GPS –explained. (2006). Retrieved August 28, 2008, from http://www.kowoma.de/en/gps/satellites.htm

Today the GPS system consists of 24 satellites.



Photo of satellite system retrieved August 28, 2008 from http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/


How did we come about to be able to use GPS systems since it was in the hands of the DoD? The full 24 Block II satellites were in orbit and functioning in 1993. It wasn’t until March 29th, 1996 that President Clinton and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Security Council released their fact sheet entitled “U.S. Global Positioning System Policy” in which they discuss the vast uses of GPS systems for the militray, civil, commercial, and scientific uses. (1996). Retrieved August 28, 2008, from http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/geninfo/global.htm

The “U.S. Global Positioning System Policy” also stated how the GPS systems had something called GPS Selective Availabilty (SA) added as a security feature. What this feature did was introduce an error or degraded the signal used in the GPS system, which made them somewhat inaccurate by up to 100 meters or 300 feet for civilain uses. The military and our allies were the only ones that had the decoders to make the GPS systems extremely accurate again. It was thought that with this degraded signal terrorists would have a harder time accurately pin pointing targets if they used missiles. (1996). Retrieved August 28, 2008 from http://www.pdana.com/AFiles/AF96.html and from http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/geninfo/global.htm

On May 1, 2000 President Clinton issued a statement that would lower the GPS Selective Availability (SA) to Zero, in effect turning it off so that everyone can benefit from the extreme accuracy of GPS systems. (2000). Retrieved August 28, 2008 from http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/FGCS/info/sans_SA/docs/statement.html

Now with GPS Selective Availability (SA) turned off the market for extremely accurate GPS units for civilian use exploded for all types of uses. Scientists, surveying crews, military, Search and Rescue, Fire and Police, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aircraft, marine, hikers, hunters and fisherman, emergency locator beacons, and let us not forget the all too familiar GPS units for our vehicles to get us from point A to point B, which also can call for help if we need to.

This brings me to what I like about commercial GPS units, that ability to track any vehicle that is equipped with a GPS unit. The commercial and corporate fleets have been using GPS tracking units for some time to track taxis, trucking fleets, and corporate vehicles so they can monitor stops, view locations, the speed of vehicles, and to estimate when a shipment would be delivered. These same GPS units can also help reduce maintenance costs and insurance since these units can verify how fast the vehicles are going at any given time. (2008). Retrieved August 29, 2008 from http://www.fleetilla.com/
To give you an example of what a commercial GPS unit can do please go to http://www.gpsfleetsolutions.com/ for more information.

The same GPS units can be installed on Fire, Police, or Ambulance vehicles. Add to that the use of a GIS system which can be used to locate gas lines and fire hydrants, and you not only have a way to track the vehicles but a way to accurately get that vehicle to its target in the fastest possible way. In an article written by Ewe-Leng Lim, P.E., Chief Knowledge Officer, Institute of Technology for ArcNews Online in 2006 titled Fighting Fires in the 21st Century Mr. Lim describes how in 2004 the City of Hartford Connecticut installed GIS, GPS, and AVL (automatic vehicle location) into their fire trucks and police vehicles.

With the addition of these units Chief of Fire Charles Teale is quoted as saying "Included in the CSI (Community Safety Information) program is the capture of building images from all sides of the building. The goal is to have firefighters get to scenes faster, be better informed ahead of time, and make the public safer."

Deputy Chief Daniel Nolan is quoted after an actual fire with the new system operational "With this system, we were able to identify the hydrants outside of the addresses, the water mains, the sizes of the water mains, and information inside the house—how many children, their ages, if they have any ailments, or if there is anyone with a disability." (2006). Retrieved August 29, 2008 from http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer06articles/fighting-fires.html

As can be seen from the information presented by Mr. Lim the marriage of GPS, GIS and AVL can greatly help in the protection of the public safety while also providing safety for the first responders. As technology gets more advanced and GPS units get smaller and smaller in my opinion it won’t be long before every person on the planet will have a GPS unit implanted in them. Now this brings up the ugly issue of Big Brother and the invasion of privacy, but that is an issue for another discussion at a different time, and one that I would love to participate in.

Thanks,

Peter LaFata

GPS Enables Police to Track Suspect

Police have turned to GPS to help them track suspected offenders. The technology allows law enforcement to track/trail suspects without the large manpower requirements of the past. No longer do the police need multiple tail vehicles or observers. For more examples of this use of GPS technology, follow the links provided below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081203275.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/12/local/me-gps12

While many may argue that the use of GPS in this context is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, the technology is helping to make the streets of our nation safer.

For those individuals who feel GPS will be misused by law enforcement, it is also being used by cities to monitor their officers. GPS units mounted in patrol cars are being used to track police vehicle locations and speed. This provides a safer environment for both officers and the general public. The location feature enables back-up officers to locate officers who are out of communication with dispatch, allows for more efficient vectoring of patrol cars to emergency call locations, and prevents officers from straying off their assigned patrol areas. The speed feature provides departments with ways of determining responsibilty in high speed accidents. Officers will be more conscience about how fast they drive in certain situation, possible avoiding a collision or injury.

GPS Technology; Benefits Outweigh the Invasion to Privacy

GPS technology is one of the many useful products to come from our military ingenuity. In addition to advancements in computer and signal technology, GPS equipment will only get better, more affordable and more useful over time. GPS has proven to be a vital instrument in disaster recovery and relief efforts in regards to global disasters such as the 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean and Hurricane Katrina. The future uses of GPS will only be limited by our imagination, and as long as we can think outside the box, GPS technology and applications will only improve. The only negative that may arise is the fear of GPS technology becoming personally intrusive but I believe that the benefits will be far greater than the invasion to privacy. A summary of those benefits may be read at the following link: http://www.gps.gov/applications/safety/index.html

Additionally, the link Dr. Edwards suggested for the GPS tutorial, http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml , was very informative. I also found the following links to be very helpful, http://www.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm & http://www.profsurv.com/newpsm/archive.php?issue=85&article=1191


I am all for technological advancements and GPS and its uses is in that category, therefore I will not fear any personal intrusion and will welcome the future of GPS modernization.

GIS/GPS for Utilities

This is basically a summary of how GPS is used to locate assests (valves, pipes, manholes, etc...) in water/wastewater utility

GIS/GPS Used in Utilities
— Local utilities have incorporated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for databases, map viewing and modeling.
— The GIS aids in asset management, business development and emergency management

Uses by Water/Wastewater Utilities
— Asset Management - Knowing of location of infrastructure located throughout the city
— Water and sewer lines
— Water valves and hydrants
— Sewer manholes
— Water treatment facilities and wells
— Wastewater reclamation facilities
— Using GPS tools to locate assets creates the GIS databases for maps. These maps are then used in daily operations for maintaining the water and wastewater infrastructure

GPS and Business
— In water utilities knowing the exact location is critical for daily operations and emergencies
— For customers to have water services they must connect to existing water and sewer mains. GPS data lets utility workers and contractors know where to dig without disruption to services or damage to existing piping

Emergency Management
— When water lines or sewer lines suddenly break utility workers must respond immediately to restore service.
— Having valves, pipes and manholes properly GPS saves time and money for efficient repairs.
— Having the exact location of the utility infrastructure verified with GPS and stored in a GIS database creates a utility well managed for daily operations and emergency response

How to Post a Blog

Yikes! How do you post to a blog?

Well, you must first be recognized as a contributor to the blog. If you've completed all of the necessary steps, your name will be listed under contributors on the left-hand side of the blog.

After you do the next part once or twice, posting to a blog will become very easy. It looks more complicated than it is when you read the instructions below.

If you want to create a new post, you click on "New Post". You can do this in either the intial window that opens when you log in, or in the blog, which you can access via "View Blog".

In the blog window, click on "New Post" in the upper right hand corner.

Then click the "Posting" tab.

Click the "Create" button.

You will be in the "Compose" window.

Add a title. Type in your text. Click the "Add Image" button (looks like a mountain with a tree and blue sky) and follow instructions to add an image. To add the image, you browse to your image file and select it, choose whether you'd like the blog image to be on the left, middle or right, accept terms of service, and then click "Upload Image".You can do something similar if you wish with video.

Once you're done, click the "Publish Post" button.

You can then click on "View Blog" in the new window to see your new posting. You will be taken to the blog.Your new posting will appear separately from my old posting and from all others'.

If you wish to edit or modify your post, you can click back on "New Posting" in the upper right hand corner, and then click on "Edit Posts" in the new window that appears. You will be taken to a window where you can view, edit or delete your post. If you choose edit, then you get to edit your post and republish it.

- Dr. Edwards

Welcome to ETM 567 Class Assignments

Hi, folks. This is the blog site for several of our ETM 567 assignments. Over the next week, we will be using this blog for our first assignment.

Can you access this blog and create a new post? Please post your answer in the comments section.