Supporting Asset Management for Incident Management Using Gis

Currently, most of the incident management (IM) teams depend on paper maps and information sheets when traffic diversion is warranted in the presence of a major accident. These paper maps are not only difficult to use in the presence of an emergency situation, they are also difficult to maintain to ensure up-to-date information. A customized computer based system that takes advantage of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is the best solution for accessing and maintaining these diversion maps and related other information. This paper describes a general framework and basic functions based on GIS for traffic incident management operations and long-term asset management of the equipment used for IM. The proposed tool Traffic Incident Management System (TIMS) is developed using Visual Basic (VB) programming language and GeoMedia Pro, GIS software package. A major innovation of this application is the development of a VB based computer program that automates the efficient merging operations of multiple incident management plans for any complex transportation network. Response strategies implemented using this application include GIS based traffic diversion plans, assignment of static and dynamic variable message signs to diversion points, and database of capabilities of responding agencies. The application offers “intelligent electronic maps” that can present the user the related diversion route and variable message sign locations along with the list of messages and agencies to be contacted, when the accident link of interest is identified on the GIS map. Diversion routes and other information can also be easily updated through the same Graphical User Interface (GUI), which has user-friendly data editing properties. Message signs are efficiently attached to electronic information data sheets that can be accessed and updated by the user through the same interface. Therefore, the application not only provides real time traffic incident management information to the traffic operators through a GIS based GUI but allows him to maintain an accurate database. The paper aims to demonstrate the utility of dynamic diversion maps and visual elements to ensure incident preparedness, and assist transportation agencies and also public safety agencies with an innovative asset and information management tool that facilitates the deployment of effective traffic incident management strategies. This tool is hoped to obviate the need for paper maps and manuals that can contain obsolete information that is difficult to update in a timely manner.