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Fighting Forest Fires – There’s an App for That
A cutting-edge mobile app, Collector for ArcGIS, is helping Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) more effectively and efficiently fight wildfires, saving lives and property across the state.
Developed by Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute), a California-based company specializing in information management, Collector for ArcGIS collects and analyzes spatial and geographical data, and helps firefighters quickly interact with other responders. The app allows firefighters to share vital information, such as maps, photos, videos, affected acreage and incident progress.
“It allows us to have multiple inputs to paint a picture of where the incident is – the boundaries, the fire’s perimeter, what values at risk are threatened, and what type of terrain it’s burning in,” says Mark Goeller, fire management chief for Oklahoma Forestry Services. “With Collector for ArcGIS, we can constantly share updates and changes, and everyone is able to see that almost immediately.”
OFS, the first state agency in the U.S. to use Collector for ArcGIS for wildfire initial attack, implemented the app starting in 2014. In addition to OFS employees, county wildland task force leaders, fire chiefs and highway patrol pilots use the app on a regular basis.
Designed to collect real-time, up-to-the-minute data by those working in the field, Collector for ArcGIS is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows operating systems. The app operates in both connected and disconnected modes depending on the user’s needs, and its user-friendly, intuitive interface makes it easy and convenient to work into a routine.
“With Collector for ArcGIS, all the information a firefighter needs is in one application and in one place,” says Jon Doherty, account executive for state government at Esri.