DHS S&T aiding indoor mapping capability development

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability.

Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first responders to review and analyze indoor floor plans in real-time when responding to incidents.

“It has been a major challenge for first responders to quickly determine the layouts of structures, hindering them from making informed decisions before entering a building,” DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology Kathryn Coulter Mitchell said. “Mappedin Response provides the ability to conduct a 360-degree assessment with digitized floor-plans, better positioning responders to take necessary precautions and ensure they have the necessary equipment and tools to act more effectively in protecting people, property, and their own lives.”

Through the technology, first responders will be able to create, update and maintain a digital warehouse of 3D floor plans accessible on tablets and mobile devices – eliminating reliance on hard-copy floor plans and maps.

“This new tool will also help federal, state, and local communities plan for different types of incidents, which is an essential element of effective response by any first responder agency,” S&T First Responder Capability Program Manager Anthony Caracciolo. “For example, the Mappedin Response platform will complement detection and tracking technologies, such as sensors that can detect gunshots or the presence of life, allowing these systems to overlay their specific outputs onto a floor plan. This provides first responders a holistic view of what they are dealing with so they can coordinate their plans accordingly.”