ERASDSS – Efficient Rescue Administration using Spatial Decision Support Systems

Abstract

Every field of life has benefitted from the advancements in the geospatial arena particularly in the past few decades; from business management to health sciences, the applications of geographic information systems (GIS) are diversified. However, developing countries like Pakistan are yet to explore the untapped potential of the GIS, thereby lagging far behind the developed countries. Emergency management is a serious issue and with lives dependent on the promptness of the emergency response, it becomes even more important to incorporate technology into the management systems to reduce the response times for such emergencies. Mitigation of hazards and emergencies through preparedness is an important aspect of emergency management, and with historical data, useful insights into the incident patterns can be gained with the help of GIS, thereby allowing rescue services to anticipate and get ready for such incidents. RESCUE 1122 is a state-owned emergency response service provider in the Punjab province. The project, ERASDSS – Efficient Rescue Administration using Spatial Decision Support Systems, focuses on replacing the existing manual system with automated emergency response system, facilitating reduced response times by saving the trouble of manual form filling, checking on the availability of drivers and assignment of drivers and assignment of routes using latest tools and geospatial technologies. The research aims to find optimum sites for rescue stations and emergency vehicles’ deployment as well as the rush hours and the most suitable routes to the nearest hospitals using the historical data and spatial analyses.