Abstract

Teaching GIS to Emergency Planners and Responders
Track: Teaching with GIS in Higher Education
Authors: Annika Wilczewski

Disasters and emergencies require access to timely and accurate spatial information for situational awareness. Although GIS and geospatial technologies is something emergency managers and first responders are talking about, the reality is that there is little formal education that introduces these professionals to the technology. As a not-for-profit, public post secondary institution specializing in public safety, educating about the power of GIS and social media to improve situational awareness and communications was an important undertaking. Developing the curriculum for any introductory course is often challenging, but particularly so in the field of public safety: participants have a wide range of backgrounds, training and education. This presentation will look at the methodology used to deliver an engaging, introductory overview in the use of GIS in Emergency Management. Although the course was designed specifically for public safety, the techniques could be applied to any audience.