Safe city | 31 March 2020
Article: How quick responses lead to safer cities
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The same goes for municipal governments. Of course you spend great amounts of time and effort to keep your community safe and to prevent dangerous situations in your city. Still, the fact remains that every now and then, you’ll have to deal with the unexpected.
No fear: using data gives you an edge even in those dire circumstances. Read on to find out how Cyclomedia can help you.
Emergency dispatch services
Emergency dispatch services are literally the first port of call when danger rears its head. But sometimes it can be difficult for them to establish a quick overview of the lay of the land, and in an emergency, every second counts.
Fortunately there’s street-level imaging. Emergency responders can use data to determine access routes, pinpoint the best locations for emergency services, aid situational awareness, improve communication and coordination, and ensure all involved parties have the same overview of the situation across the board.
Additionally, providing emergency and rescue services with visual and spatial intelligence ensures a fast response and makes it possible to immediately recognize an incident location. These images also allow emergency services to optimize their routes and receive information about potential on-site hazards and obstacles. All told, street-level imaging leads to shorter response times. And shorter response times save lives.
Flooding and other natural disasters
With climate change on the rise, flooding is proving to be more and more of a problem. Where do people require immediate assistance? Which windows are below the water level? Data helps you to prioritize and minimize damage and casualties.
That’s not just a distant dream: we’re already using data to improve the way we respond to disasters. During forest fires, for example. Each year, forest fires are responsible for the destruction of acres upon acres of nature and residential areas alike. Recovery teams now use street-level imagery for rapid condition assessment and disaster response plans. The situational awareness provided by street-level imaging is invaluable.