rough draft feasibility report
zeddo1719
Feasibilityreportsample.pdf
Feasibility of Implementing Mobile GIS at the Flagstaff Fire Department
Prepared for the Flagstaff Fire Department
Joe Doe [email protected]
555 Kiowa, Anywhere, CO 80033
College of Applied Human Sciences Colorado State University
II
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... III
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 1
Background ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
What is a mobile GIS? ................................................................................................................................... 1
Why mobile GIS? ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Mobile GIS in the Fire Service ................................................................................................................... 2
Research Methods and Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................................. 3
Results ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Resources Needed ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Costs ................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Evaluation of General Criteria .................................................................................................................. 7
Evaluation of Departmental Needs Criteria .......................................................................................... 8
Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 9
Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 9
References ..............................................................................................................................................................11
Tables
Table 1. Matrix Assessing if Mobile GIS Benefits Meet Mission and Vision ..................................... 7
Table 2. Departmental Needs Matrix .............................................................................................................. 8
Appendix
Figure 1. Interview #1 with Robert Speer, Flagstaff City GIS Department Head ........................12
Figure 2. Interview #2 with Robert Speer, Flagstaff City GIS Department Head ........................15
III
Executive Summary The Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) has not extended its use of geographic information systems
(GIS) for use in a mobile application. If the department seeks to achieve its mission of responsibly
protecting lives, property, and community resources, it must consider implementing new technologies that
help the department reach higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness. Also, if the department seeks to
achieve its vision of being a regional leader and adopter of innovations, it must consider embracing
advanced methods of providing services. The department will demonstrate regional leadership by
embracing new technologies and paving the path for other regional organizations. The research conducted
in this report seeks to discover if implementing mobile GIS can help the FFD provide services more
effectively, thereby pursuing its organization mission and vision.
Mobile GIS has already helped United States fire agencies provide more effective and efficient
services. GIS data exists for the FFD, and many departments, at a fixed location. Installing mobile data
terminals (MDT) – computers capable of wireless communications – into fire apparatus allows firefighters
to access GIS data at fixed locations wherever they respond to emergencies. The MDT’s simply must have
software installed on them that can use the wireless capabilities to access the data and display it on the
screen using a graphical user interface.
At the Hartford Fire Department in Connecticut, the Everett Fire Department in Washington, and
the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department in Pennsylvania, mobile GIS is being used to improve the capabilities of
firefighters. Common activities are made more efficient and effective, such as: enhanced ability to locate
and respond to emergencies; improved pre-planning of at-risk properties; on site gathering of data to
manage emergencies; more powerful command and control capabilities for fire officers during incidents;
greater productivity and efficiency in gathering and sharing relevant data in the field, such as hydrant
locations or pressure data; integration of valuable data from other agencies while in the field; and enhanced
communication with emergency dispatchers.
This report concludes that the FFD can benefit from specific functions enabled by mobile GIS, and is
capable of implementing these functions with minimal cost and resources. At this time, the following
IV
benefits are feasible to implement:
1. Locate and identify the incident geographically.
2. Display the quickest recommended route to the incident location.
3. Display the locations of fire hydrants in response areas.
4. Display the locations of hazardous material storage and processes.
5. Provide mobile capability to model emergency incidents on-scene.
Benefits that a mobile GIS application can provide, but that are recommended for implementation at
a later date, include:
1. Displaying digital pre-fire plans on MDT’s.
2. Displaying floor plans in conjunction with pre-fire plans.
3. Displaying the locations of control points for utilities.
4. Linking digital photographs to geographic locations for display on MDT’s.
Evaluating each mobile GIS benefit against two different sets of criteria led to these conclusions. The
two sets of criteria were general feasibility criteria and departmental needs criteria. If a benefit was
successfully evaluated against more than three criteria in each set, it was determined to be feasible.
However, a feasible benefit had to be evaluated successfully against both sets – not just one set. The
resulting list of successful benefits and the accompanying list of failed benefits, indicate which benefits the
FFD is recommended to implement using a mobile GIS.
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Introduction
Background
The Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) is not using the benefits of mobile geographic information
systems (GIS) to achieve its organizational mission more efficiently and effectively. The mission of the
department is to responsibly protect life, property, and community resources. Of relevance is the vision
statement of the FFD (2011), which includes the statement: “We are committed to providing leadership and
innovation in all that we do, and strive to enrich the service that we provide.” The vision statement also
vows to “adhere to our mission by endeavoring to improve the quality of life in Flagstaff.” These statements
obligate the department to consider implementing mobile GIS because it will aid in achieving both the
mission and vision statement. This report establishes whether it is feasible for the department to pursue
this implementation.
What is a mobile GIS?
The FFD uses its GIS to perform analytical tasks, and these tasks are generally performed in an
office using a desktop computer. If the information the department currently stores on its GIS server is
accessed using a wireless service from a mobile device, such as a laptop, smartphone, or other device, it
becomes mobile GIS. Mobile GIS is simply using portable devices to access the information on the server
and displaying it on the device in the field so the information can be useful. This eliminates the need to
prepare or plan to take information ahead of time, as it is always available as long as it is already on the GIS
server.
Why mobile GIS?
A mobile GIS would benefit the fire department in several ways, but the most common and obvious
benefits include: enhanced ability to locate and respond to emergencies; improved pre-planning of at-risk
properties; on site gathering of data to manage emergencies; more powerful command and control
capabilities for fire officers during incidents; greater productivity and efficiency in gathering and sharing
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relevant data in the field, such as hydrant locations or pressure data; integration of valuable data from other
agencies while in the field; and enhanced communication with emergency dispatchers. These benefits
affect nearly every division in the fire department, and also carry over to benefit other city departments and
partner agencies once implemented.
The benefits of mobile GIS can be reaped on each and every call. For example, any historical
example of the department being able to make a difference in the outcome of the incident simply by arriving
one or two minutes earlier, is a case and point for using the function of mobile GIS that allows response
time to be expedited and emergency operations to be accelerated. During the devastating Rodeo Chediski
Fire, mobile GIS would have allowed firefighters to more intelligently develop strategies for the protection
of residential homes in the wildland-urban interface by placing relevant GIS data in the hand of personnel
via mobile data terminals.
Mobile GIS in the Fire Service
In Connecticut, the city of Hartford Fire Department implemented a mobile GIS system that
enhanced the services it provides. The fire department started without an existing GIS system, and first
implemented GIS, followed by mobile GIS. Benefits that were highly valued included the ability to use maps
to highlight where particular resources were located, how to arrive at the incident most quickly, the ability
to see an overview of the location with the surrounding environment, and the resulting reduction in radio
chatter because more information was available (by wireless sharing) using mobile terminals. The
department chose to implement the entire system at once requiring a larger initial investment, rather than
implement modules one at a time (AT&T, 2009).
The current capabilities of GIS will allow the FFD to modernize its pre-planning procedures and
more effectively provide pre-planning data to firefighters responding to incidents. David L. DeMarco’s
(2010) research on the use of GIS-based pre-incident planning, for the Everett Fire Department in
Washington and the National Fire Academy, determined that GIS is a clear solution for quickly and easily
displaying location-specific pre-incident planning information, such as that specified within NFPA 1620,
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Standard for Pre-incident Planning. DeMarco also points out that GIS is well suited for pre-planning because
it deals with geographic locations, and most pre-planning data is location-based. He goes so far as to assert
that, “GIS is the only plausible nexus for all the different data types collected by, or of interest to the Everett
Fire Department” (p. 23).
Nicholas W. Sohyda, of the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, in Pennsylvania, found that GIS enabled
his department to share data within the municipality, thereby reducing the fire department's efforts to
gather their own data and strengthening the pre-fire planning program. Data layers such as hazardous
materials storage, special needs occupants, owner information, building photographs, floor plans, and more,
all became available to responders in the field using mobile devices. Situational awareness is significantly
enhanced by this use of GIS, and the department is able to use its resources more effectively while serving
the mission of the fire service (Sohyda, 2004).
Research Methods and Evaluation Criteria Research was conducted to learn more about whether mobile GIS would benefit the FFD by
enhancing the department’s ability to achieve its organizational mission.
It was determined that mobile GIS can be implemented as separate modules, allowing some
functions to be implemented but not others. This eliminates the need to view mobile GIS as a single
package that is all or nothing. Robert Speer, GIS Analyst and GIS department manager for the city of
Flagstaff, responded to interview questions on November 4, 2011 to help explain what elements of GIS or
mobile GIS already exist as resources available for the implementation of mobile GIS within the fire
department. Later he supplemented this information with an explanation of associated costs.
The functions of mobile GIS that would be most beneficial to the FFD in a preliminary
implementation of mobile GIS were identified. Analyzing how other fire departments use mobile GIS led to
the development of these select functions. Also, incorporating the recommendations made by GIS software
developers regarding how mobile GIS can be used within fire departments supported the development of
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these specific functions. These functions included:
• Incident location: The location of an incident can be displayed on a map of the area
(DeMarco, 2010; ESRI, 2006).
• Quickest route: The most efficient route to the incident can be displayed based on where the
vehicle is currently located – routes can be by time or distance (ESRI, 2006).
• Hydrant locations: The locations of all fire hydrants can be displayed on the map (DeMarco,
2010; ESRI, 2006; Sohyda, 2004).
• Digital pre-planning: Using various methods the pre-plans used by the department can be
digitized or initially created digitally, and then displayed in a separate window as additional
data attached to the incident location (DeMarco, 2010; ESRI, 2006; Sohyda, 2004).
• Digital Photographs: Digital photographs can be displayed, like pre-plans, as additional data
available in a separate window, and attached to the incident location (ESRI, 2006).
• Floor plans: Digital floor plans of commercial buildings can be attached to the incident
location (DeMarco, 2010; ESRI, 2006; Sohyda, 2004).
• Hazardous material locations: The location of hazardous materials or processes can be
displayed on a map (DeMarco, 2010; ESRI, 2006; Sohyda, 2004).
• Utility control points: The location of control points for utilities can be designated on the
map, such as gas shutoff valves or fire sprinkler connections (DeMarco, 2010; ESRI, 2006;
Sohyda, 2004).
• Incident modeling: The effects of an incident can be modeled using special software that uses
data to display what geographical area on a map would be affected by a particular scenario,
such as how the wind would blow chemicals in a chlorine spill (ESRI, 2006).
Two levels of criteria were developed that each mobile GIS function would be evaluated against:
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1. General Criteria: The first level consists of technological feasibility, economic practicality,
social desirability, and ecological soundness. These criteria were developed using general
guidelines for feasibility studies, and they are indicative of overarching concerns regarding
feasibility.
2. Department Needs Criteria: The second set of criteria was developed through an interview
with deputy chief Dirch Foreman (personal communication, November 14, 2011), of the
Highlands Fire District, who identified what his implementation concerns would be in
regards to mobile GIS. Highlands Fire District frequently operates alongside the FFD when
responding to regional emergency incidents. Deputy chief Foreman’s concerns included:
a. Will mobile GIS increase productivity?
b. Will mobile GIS provide a cost savings or generate revenue?
c. Can mobile GIS enhance the safety of firefighter and citizens?
d. Will a mobile GIS application be compatible with the mission, vision, and values of
the FFD?
e. Can mobile GIS benefit other departments, such as public works or law enforcement?
Results Research results and data are presented below regarding the following topics: results of interview
with Robert Speer concerning GIS resources; and matrices cross-referencing the beneficial functions of GIS
with the criteria revealed within the research methods.
Resources Needed
Flagstaff city GIS Analyst and department head, Robert Speer (personal communication, November
4, 2011), reports that the fire department and municipality have much if the infrastructure already in place
to implement mobile GIS. The missing link is a “third party plugin,” which is software that can be installed
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on the mobile data terminals (MDT) already present on fire apparatus. This software allows the MDT to
access the data wirelessly from the GIS database and display the information using an interface beneficial to
firefighters.
A long-term and ongoing resource need in implementing and using GIS is data collection. The GIS
database is more valuable of it contains a variety of data that is updated as frequently as possible. So an
ongoing process is ensuring that existing GIS data is current, and that new relevant data is added to the
database.
Costs
Speer (personal communication, November 22, 2011) has indicated that the cost of implementing
mobile GIS should be relatively low because the city has already adopted GIS and the fire department has
already implemented digital technology, including installing laptops in the fire apparatus.
There are two primary costs associated with implementing GIS:
1. Mobile GIS software: A software package from StreetWise CADlink (2011), which will enable
the department to use GIS data in a mobile fashion, will cost a one-time initiation fee of
$3995 for up to 25 terminals. This will cover all primary apparatus and chief officer
vehicles, plus reserve apparatus. Additional fees for initiating more than 25 terminals costs
$495 per each additional terminal. Monthly fees cost $15 per terminal, per month, and this
fee covers the cost of using StreetWise software to access the GIS data the department
needs. Total subscription fees for terminals in each of the 21 apparatus would cost $3780
per year.
2. Personnel Hours and Training: The second cost that Speer has indicated is the cost of
training fire department personnel to interface with the mobile GIS application using in-
vehicle terminals. As an example and to establish a training baseline, the Northeastern Rural
Electric Membership Corporation was able to implement mobile GIS in under one week for
their organization – after deciding on the software and a contractor who installed and
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developed their software – and only 4.4% of their employees needed initial user training
that lasted longer than 30 minutes (Weber, 2009). Speer has assured that he would be
capable of mastering the software and training key fire department personnel, who could
then train the rest of the firefighters while already on shift (trickle-down training). By the
end of two or three shift cycles, all personnel could be trained when free time was available
at no extra cost to the department. Speer’s time learning the software and training would
not be billed interdepartmentally, as he and his staff successfully allocate time each
day/week/month to accomplish all GIS tasks for the city’s multiple departments; this has
been approved by the city manager.
Evaluation of General Criteria
In order to determine if implementing mobile GIS is feasible, the benefits of mobile GIS were
processed through two matrices. To meet the criteria in the first matrix, the mobile GIS benefit needed to
meet at least three criteria (see Table 1). The first matrix consisted of the following general criteria:
1. Technological Feasibility: Is the technology to support this benefit available?
2. Economic Practicality: Is it economical to spend the money on this benefit?
3. Social Desirability: Is it socially desirable to use this benefit?
4. Ecological Soundness: Is this benefit ecological, if relevant?
Table 1. Matrix Assessing if Mobile GIS Benefits Meet Mission and Vision
Mobile GIS Benefit Technologically Feasible
Economic Practicability
Social Desirability Ecological Soundness
Incident location Yes Yes Yes N/A
Quickest route Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hydrant locations Yes Yes Yes Yes
Digital pre-planning Yes No No N/A
Digital Photographs Yes Yes Yes N/A
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Mobile GIS Benefit Technologically Feasible
Economic Practicability
Social Desirability Ecological Soundness
Floor plans Yes No No N/A
Hazardous material locations Yes Yes Yes Yes
Utility control points Yes No No Yes
Incident modeling Yes Yes Yes Yes
Evaluation of Departmental Needs Criteria
The second matrix used to determine if mobile GIS would be feasible to implement at the FFD
consisted of matching each mobile GIS benefit against the following criteria with the goal of meeting at
least three (see Table 2):
1. Will mobile GIS increase productivity?
2. Will mobile GIS provide a cost savings or generate revenue?
3. Can mobile GIS enhance the safety of firefighter and citizens?
4. Is a mobile GIS application compatible with the mission, vision, and values of the FFD?
5. Can mobile GIS benefit other departments, such as public works or law enforcement?
Table 2. Departmental Needs Matrix
Mobile GIS Benefit Increase Productivity
Cost Savings Enhance Life Safety
Compatible With Mission
Interdepartmental Benefits
Incident location Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Quickest route Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hydrant locations Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Digital pre-planning Yes No Yes Yes No
Digital Photographs Yes No No Yes No
Floor plans Yes No Yes Yes Yes
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Hazardous material locations
Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Utility control points Yes No Yes Yes No
Incident modeling Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions
Each benefit of mobile GIS was analyzed using both matrices.
• The benefits of incident location, quickest route, hydrant locations, photographs, hazardous
materials locations, and incident modeling met at least three of the general criteria.
• The benefit of digital photographs did not make it through the departmental needs criteria,
so the benefits that met both sets of criteria were: incident location, quickest route, hydrant
locations, digital pre-planning, floor plans, hazardous materials locations, utility control
points and incident modeling.
The benefits of mobile GIS, fortunately, can be implemented individually. This allows some of the
benefits to be implemented while others are not, and so mobile GIS can be implemented at the FFD. The
benefits that met the criteria of both matrices are deemed feasible to implement.
Additionally the resources to implement mobile GIS were available and the costs are modest in
comparison to the benefits. The specific functions of mobile GIS that successfully “passed” both matrices
can be implemented using a mobile GIS software package and personnel can be trained to utilize these
functions.
Recommendations
Based on the conclusions determined by the feasibility analysis, it is recommended that the FFD
pursue the implementation of the following mobile GIS functions in addition to the existing GIS.
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Mobile GIS is recommended to:
1. Locate and identify the incident geographically.
2. Display the quickest recommended route to the incident location.
3. Display the locations of fire hydrants in response areas.
4. Display the locations of hazardous material storage and processes.
5. Provide mobile capability to model emergency incidents on-scene.
It is recommended that the FFD develop specific implementation plans and integrate these mobile
GIS functions into the operational budget so that they may be implemented as soon as possible. Those
functions that can be implemented without budget approval should immediately enter an operational
planning phase. Planning for the implementation of other functions should begin so when the expenditure
approvals are made. Grants should be researched that may allow for these functions to be implemented.
Those functions that did not meet the necessary criteria should be reassessed at a later date, or in the next
budget year. Grants may allow these functions to become realistic to implement, and other factors may
change allowing them to meet various criteria.
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References AT&T (2009). Hartford Connecticut fire department: fighting fires with wireless. Case study. Retrieved from
http://http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/en_US/pdf/HartfordFD-CaseStudy.pdf
City of Flagstaff (2011). Mission, vision, and values. Accessed November 8, 2011 from
http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=351
DeMarco, David L. (2010). Using geographic information systems for pre-incident planning. An executive
fire officer paper for the national fire academy. Accessed November 1, 2011 from
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/pdf/efop/efo45087.pdf
ESRI (2006). GIS technology and applications for the fire service. Accessed June 1, 2011 from
http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/fire-service-gis-applications.pdf
Sohyda, Nicholas W (2004). Applications of geographic information systems (GIS) in the Mt. Lebanon Fire
Department. An executive fire officer paper for the national fire academy. Accessed June 21, 2011
from http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo37369.pdf
StreetWise CADlink™ (2011). How much does it cost? Accessed December 3, 2011
http://www.streetwisecadlink.com/how-much-does-it-cost
Weber, Steven (2009). Embracing change: A move to mobile GIS. Accessed December 9, 2011 from
http://tdworld.com/smart_grid_automation/mobile-gis-090501/
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Appendix
Figure 1. Interview #1 with Robert Speer, Flagstaff City GIS Department Head
How feasible would it be to develop a single GIS enterprise server that supported all of the city departments?
The City implements an enterprise SQL Server ArcSDE GIS database that hosts city-wide data,
including things like:
• Land (parcels, addresses, buildings, boundaries, contour lines etc.)
• Transportation (streets, trails, bus routes, etc.)
• Planning (zoning, capital projects, etc.)
• Administrative (city limits, voting districts, facilities, fire districts, etc.)
• Hydrology (river channels, ponds/lakes, watersheds, floodplains, etc.)
• Records (construction plans, easements, subdivision plans, land owner information, building
permits, etc.)
• Rasters (digital elevation models, aerial imagery, hillshades, etc.)
• Utilities (water network, sewer network, Stormwater network, etc.)
All these features are accessible city-wide, and provide one common place for finding base data.
This enterprise data is hosted on internal web applications, providing self-service to end-users to find what
they need from their desktop without specific GIS software.
Specific projects that are requested from different departments - that require analysis or
manipulation of any base data, or creation of new project specific data - is stored on a network drive with a
common file structure that is readable to anyone within the City. These are the types of projects that
constitute the bulk of the work we conduct, not necessarily changes to the above base data.
Is the data contained within your department easily accessible to the fire department? Does this include public works data or utilities data? Do you send this, or make this available, to Dan for the dispatch server? Is this automatic, or does Dan request it?
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The City fire department can access any GIS data via a web-application or with desktop GIS
applications, inside the City firewall. The LEAF, being a County facility, is within the County firewall and I
believe has a live connection to County enterprise GIS databases. The City receives monthly data updates
from the County for Parcel and Owner information. Other data is provided on request. Data is shared from
the City to the County (and therefore the LEAF) on a per-request basis, or when City staff feels there have
been significant changes to the base data. I would estimate an average for a “data-dump” of address data to
the LEAF on a quarterly basis. The challenge with providing live connections between City and County
enterprise GIS databases remains to be providing secure connections thru firewalls both networks have in
place.
We share a close relationship with the County GIS, and have open lines of communication. Some of
us used to work together.
Anecdotally, there generally are not extreme changes to base data (roads, addresses) on a daily basis
that would necessitate a protocol above sharing data on a regularly scheduled or on-request basis. Planning
roadways, and building them, or platting a new subdivision and assigning addresses to parcels, happens
over a long period of time – often months or even years – and therefore the GIS data is well ahead of what is
actually happening on the ground. For instance, assigning new addresses to parcels within the City is
handled by the GIS Section, and when there is a large change, I would provide the “data-dump” at that point.
Does your department use handheld devices or mobile GIS applications? If so, how do you use mobile GIS?
The GIS Section has a sub-meter accuracy GPS unit, that is used primarily for locating assets in the
field.
The Utilities department utilizes ArcGIS Desktop on field laptops to work performed on
water/sewer/reclaim lines.
The Public Works department utilizes GIS in the field to spatially conduct pavement rating
inventories. They are scheduled to come on-line next year with mobile devices that can point them to work
order locations that pertain to street signs, traffic signals, road stripping, stormwater features, etc.
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The Fire Department’s Wildland Fire provides us with GPS locations of treatments to reduce wildfire
risk, which we spatially store in GIS databases.
Beyond basic GPS’ing, most mobile applications require a 3rd party plug in. For instance, Utilities
utilizes City Works, and Public Works utilizes Cartegraph to track maintenance activities – these
applications tie into the GIS to answer the question of “where” these assets are.
Do any of the members of your department perform job duties in support of the fire department? Is this standard, or is there a regular GIS assistant from somewhere else who is assigned to help the fire department? Is the time used by the city GIS personnel absorbed in your budget, or billed to the fire department?
GIS is funded by the general fund within the City, so we do not bill other departments, as most
departments are funded by the same source – simply put, we would just be shuffling money around in the
same account. That said, we routinely complete work orders for all City departments, including the Fire
Department.
Here are some examples of work orders I can think of now we would receive from the Fire
Department:
• Fire Station Service Areas: showing 1.5 and 2 mile service areas (for different equipment
deployment) that show road-network distance that can be reached from any particular fire
station. These were common when relocating fire stations that have been built recently, and
after new fire stations open or old ones closed.
• Fire Hydrant Atlas: The Fire Department tests all hydrants in the City annually, for which GIS
produces a map book and associated field forms to record testing.
• Fire Suitability: An annual analysis that takes into account factors such as slope, forest
treatments, vegetation, distance from hydrants, etc., and results in a risk assessment for lands
within the City
• Maintenance of forest treatment locations
• Redrawing of Fire Districts after relocation of fire departments
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• Maintaining detailed paper map atlases of all areas within the City, detailing things such as fire
department connections to individual buildings.
Figure 2. Interview #2 with Robert Speer, Flagstaff City GIS Department Head
Can you discuss the resources that are available and costs associated with implementing mobile GIS for the fire department?
I’m going to make this quick.
We can provide services to all city departments, including the fire department, at no cost. My boss
gives me direction on priorities at times, but I can generally dedicate my department’s resources to a
project using my judgment.
The fire department has everything it needs to run mobile GIS except a 3rd party plugin. The
Cadlink program we discussed would serve this purpose but a customized plugin or web interface would
be more flexible in the long run, although this would be a lot more expensive. It would only be a one-time
capital expense however. It should run on the MDT’s already in the apparatus.
In this scenario I could probably train some fire department personnel to use the 3rd party plugin
after playing with it a bit. Maybe they could train the rest of the department.
If you have any more questions Joel or need clarification, please let me know.
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Grade Sheet (10 pts.) Title page
(15 pts.) Table of contents, list of tables, and list of figures
(30 pts.) Executive summary
(15 pts.) Report format
(150 pts.) Report content
Your report content will be graded based on the following criteria: • Accuracy (i.e., use of accurate info, etc.) • Audience Appropriateness (e.g., appropriate information included
for audience, appropriate terminology used) • Clarity & Conciseness of writing (i.e., lack of contradictory, illogical,
unclear statements; sentences understood on first reading, wordiness is not a problem, etc.)
• Grammar (i.e., grammar, spelling, word usage, capitalization, abbreviations, etc.)
• Organization (i.e., within paragraphs, among paragraphs, use of transitions, etc.)
• Use of Sources (i.e., Appropriate sources, attribution, paraphrasing, etc.)
• Tone (appropriate tone for audience and for article type)
(30 pts.) Appendices and reference list
Total points
