Major events in recent years have demonstrated the need to collect, map, view and store accurate data as quickly as possible (presently undertaken via a paper based system). 

Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board (MFB) crews who attended the Queensland Floods in 2010 witnessed the introduction of electronically collected data utilising Trimble Collection Devices. Although an improvement on paper based data collection, there was still a need for devices to be collected and data downloaded at the Queensland Command Centre. 

Our research led us to Geocove USA who have developed a software solution for mapping and data collection of the impact of natural and man made disasters, events which can be downloaded and viewed “in real time”. 

We have adapted and localised the software to reflect Australian requirements and utilise ruggedised tablets to collect the data. Operators map, record GPS co-ordinates, photograph and assess disaster events and automatically synchronise data which is sent to a MFB secure web viewer. 

ARM360 uses an ArcGis server as its central mapping platform allowing all data collected by MFB to be shared with other Emergency Service Organisations (ESO), in line with interoperability guidelines. 

The ability to view data in “real time” at Control Centres greatly assists decision making by Incident Controllers and recovery agencies. The program also allows for the “potentiality” of the size of the impact on a community before a full assessment has been undertaken. 

The presentation will demonstrate ARM360’s comprehensive and flexible fields and the major benefits of 'real time data' in a single pass collection. 

Including Initial Impact Assessments (drive-by assessments ) to detailed Structural Damage and Human Services reports. 

The presentation will address two events that the MFB have attended in recent times, Bundalong Vic and Ouyen Vic. We will explain and demonstrate our data collection methods, web viewer and reporting systems with “real time demonstrations”.