The Geographic Information System Standard Operating Procedures on Incident Project (GSTOP)

1. The Geographic Information System Standard Operating Procedures on Incident Project (GSTOP) Sue McLellan Florida Division of Forestry

2. GSTOP Project Objectives This idea of this project was to create a starting point, a first iteration of GIS SOPs for incidents. Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of GIS on wildland fire incidents. Develop guidelines for the GISS’s Base Level Performance at incidents. Need for guidelines for GIS specialist expectations.

3. The Need for Standard Operating Procedures • Ensure that production operations are performed consistently • Maintain quality control of processes and products • Ensure that staff transitions are smooth • Product and service delivery are completed on a prescribed schedule

4. The Need for Standard Operating Procedures • Serve as a training document • Historical Documentation • Change Management Process

5. Where do we fit in…. Executive Oversite

6. Time Line • October 2004 NWCG Charter Developed • Funding Acquired • Project Manager and Business Lead Identified • Team Assembled • Define the Scope and Direction

7. Time Line cont. • Draft SOPs were developed June 2005 • Distributed for Field Review Fire Season • Changes and Modifications Made Winter 2005 • Final Document Sent for NWCG Review and Approval • Document Final Publication June 2006

8. GSTOP Team Members States: FL OR WA US Forest Service National Park Service US Geological Survey Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Land Management US Fish and Wildlife Services FEMA Representation

9. X X X X X X X X X X Representation FEMA Region X

10. The Process • Topics and Scope by Charter • Sections developed independently by Team Members • Group discussions • Consensus • Constraints and Limitations (NWCG)

11. The Process Continued…. Team Work Flow • Define Information Needs from SITL. GIS Specialists, Plans Chief • Develop Preliminary Business Requirements Specifications • Business Requirements Reviewed and Validated

12. Interagency Collaboration • DisasterHelp.gov • Conference Calls • Face to Face Meetings • Email • FTP.NIFC.GOV

14. SOPs Developing and recommending GIS SOPs guidelines for incidents to the NWCG. • Minimum GIS expectations on an incident • Naming conventions and structure (e.g. Folder and file) • Data sharing and archiving procedures • Incident team transition procedures

15. SOPs cont. • Documentation and metadata procedures • Standard Maps Definition • Minimum Essential Data Sets • GIS Symbology

16. Final Product • BLM Editors, Graphics Compiled the Document • The final product is an 83-page book that can be downloaded at: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/GSTOP7.pdf • Order Online from Boise NIFC Cache for $3.14 1000 Copies Printed

17. GIS Standard Operating Procedures on Incidents A Publication of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group PMS 936 NFES 2809 June 2006

19. Lessons Learned • Business Process is Very Time Consuming • Funding: 1 year for a 2 year Project • NWCG Requirements Difficult to Navigate

20. Lessons Learned cont. • BLM Publication Did a Fantastic Job • Inconsistencies Between Chapters required Editing Challenges • Project Management Facilitation Great Benefit

21. Future Direction • Annual Review of SOPs • Feedback from the business community • 410-1 Fire Line Handbook Update of ICS Symbology • Possible Pocket Guide

22. Questions ??? Sue McLellan, Systems Project Administrator (GIS) Florida Division of Forestry Mclells@doacs.state.fl.us 850-414-8554 http://gis.nwcg.gov