USNG for Iowa’s First Responders

USNG for Iowa’s First Responders

The United States National Grid (USNG): “A language of location”


USNG Trail Marking System

http://www.sharedgeo.org/

United States National Grid (USNG)

• Standardized ‘language of location’• Flexible, scalable, and increases

interoperability.

Why the US National Grid (USNG)?

• Nationally consistent map and grid system (scalable based on incident size and location)

• Provides a seamless reference system across judicial boundaries and map scales

• Is both a point and area grid reference system• Functionally equivalent and derived from the

Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)

• Established as a National Standard in 2001 by FGDC


U.S. National Grid (USNG)History


1945-1949•MGRS Developed

Mid 1990’s•GPS Arrives

2001•Adopted as Standard•FGDC

2005•Hurricane Katrina

2006•Adopted as Standard

•National SAR•FL Fire Chief’s Assoc.

2009•Adopted as Standard•FEMA SAR•Missouri•Minnesota

2013•Iowa (Beginning)

• Today – USNG values are being assigned to virtually everything and everywhere; structures, public works (sewer intakes, fire hydrants, etc.), trail markers, river markers, the list goes on and is endless.


Operational Uses of the USNGCommand and Control

Search and Rescue

Situational Awareness


Operational Uses of the USNG:Search and Rescue

Common SAR Grid Layout USNG SAR Grid (Already Established)Easily Expanded and Scalable

Enhances Interoperability


Operational Uses of the USNG:


Operational Uses of the USNG:


Georeferencing Matrix: Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue (CIS)

System User United States National Grid(USNG)

Latitude/LongitudeDD-MM.mmm

Land SAR Responder Primary Secondary

Aeronautical SAR Responders Secondary Primary

Land SAR /Aeronautical SAR Responder Interface Primary Secondary

Incident Command: Air SAR Coordination Secondary Primary

Incident Command: Land SAR Coordination Primary Secondary

What do all the numbers mean?A USNG value has three components:

Grid Zone

Designation:


15T XG 11548 40503

100,000-meter Square

Identification: Grid Coordinates:

1154 4050

115 405

11 40

10 Meters - House

100 Meters – Football Field

1000 Meters – Search Grid

11548 405031 Meter – Manhole Cover

Grid Coordinate Accuracy


Grid Zone Designations

USNG:100,000-m Square Identification



100,000 Meter Square Identification


1,000 Meter Grid

Read Right,Then Up.

U.S. National Grid Coordinates


Reading the Numbers on a map: Easting and Northing


Maps, Maps, Maps

Smart Phone Navigation Apps

GPS Receivers (DATUM NAD83)

USNG: “Language of Location”Using Technology to Assist

Compass Commander Lite GPS2OS GPS20S MilGPS


USNG: a language of location? What about Latitude and Longitude?

Latitude and Longitude Coordinates are basis of the USNG

911 Dispatchers receive “X” “Y” coordinates from cell phones

Public uses GPS Receivers (hunters, boat operators, geocache enthusiasts, etc.)


Maps, Maps, Maps!

Technology is great, but don’t forget your paper map!

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Five Ideas About USNG Markers:

• What’s the Problem?

• What’s the Solution?

• The Sign!

• The Other “Stuff”

• What’s the Future?

The situation is even worse on unimproved corridors of transit – places where individuals often end up in trouble!

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Not the First

Project Objectives:

• Standardized approach to match USNG

• Format would work nationally (grid zone issues)

• Format would work across different sign sizes/styles

• Format would respect established national sign production and placement standards

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Lots of Trial and Error (2009-2012)!

15TVK

-----------------------------

8996 5986

US National Grid Location

MILE

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And Even More (2009-2012)!

15TVK

--------------------------------

8996 5986


15TVK

--------------------------------

8996 5986


Tiegen

15T VK 8996 5986 US National Grid Location

Mile 24

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And Still More (2009-2012)!

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Prototype Run

Samples:

• Two different sign companies – Gopher and Lyle

• Two different materials – Aluminum and plastic

• Three different sizes – 6x9, 9x12, 12x12

• Four different sticker and replacement number sizes

• Four different sticker types

• Four different sticker manufacturers

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Ooopss!

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Features

• Available as preprinted or blanks to allow local/field production,

• Font mimics Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) font, but is free of license,

• Engineer grade reflective blue matches FHWA color standard, and national trail signage reflectivity standards,

• Star of Life avoids “Red Cross” proprietary issue, and can be covered by a sticker if desired, and

• 8 place USNG coordinate = 33’ accuracy, with box highlighting critical information for the vast majority of cases.

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Making an Emergency Location Marker

http://usngmarker.org/

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Now What? – Still Not Out of the Woods!

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Outreach Support – Public Brochure

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Outreach Support – Dispatcher’s Guide

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Outreach Support – CAD Support

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Outreach Support – Standardized Maps

Nate Eide and Randy Knippel (Lake Co./Dakota

Co.)

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Best Practices:

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Sign Specifications:

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U.S. Fire Academy Coffee Break Training:September 17,

2012


USNG IOWA’s Goal:Implementation of the USNG as

the State of Iowa’s “language of location”


“A map without a grid is just a picture.”

Implementing the USNG is like “pushing a wet rope up hill.”

-Al Studt, Canaveral FD, Communications & Structures Specialist, FL

Task Force 4 USAR, and USNG guru


The creation of this presentation requires special thanks to:

Steve SwazeeAl Studt

Talbott BrooksAnd other GIS professionals

around the United States


Additional Resources/References

www.usngcenter.org

www.usngiowa.org

http://www.usngcenter.org/

http://www.usngiowa.org/

http://www.usngcenter.org/

http://www.usngiowa.org/


Robert InouyeCedar Falls Fire Rescue

[email protected]

Jason DolfAerial Services, Inc.

Raymond Fire RescueEvansdale Police Department

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

USNG for Iowa’s First Responders