Method and system for providing tactical information during crisis situations

Abstract

A computer-based method and system for storing and retrieving tactical information pertaining to a site during crisis situations. The method and system provides a graphical user interface comprising a computer screen display and a selection device wherein a user may select from a plurality of options to receive desired tactical information pertaining to a particular site in a plurality of different data formats (e.g, text, graphic images, video, etc.).

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 190,230 filed on Jul. 3, 2002. Ser. No. 10 / 190,230 is a Non-Prov of Prov (35 USC 119(e)) application 60 / 326,537 filed on Sep. 24, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to retrieving tactical information during crisis situations. More particularly, the invention relates to a computer-based method and system for storing and retrieving tactical information to respond to crisis situations. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0003] Sadly, in recent times, we have become all too familiar with crisis situations such as the Columbine High School shooting incident which left several people dead and many more injured. During that incident, when emergency personnel such as Police, Fire and SWAT personnel responded to the situation, these trained men and women faced many uncertainties that significantly added to the potential...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Sadly, in recent times, we have become all too familiar with crisis situations such as the Columbine High School shooting incident which left several people dead and many more injured.

During that incident, when emergency personnel such as Police, Fire and SWAT personnel responded to the situation, these trained men and women faced many uncertainties that significantly added to the potentially life-threatening risks that they faced—uncertainties which adversely impacted their effectiveness in quickly and safely resolving the situation with minimal risk to civilians and themselves.

For example, during the initial response to the Columbine High School incident when police personnel approached the school premises, they were unaware of the safest, or, more significantly, the most dangerous, route to approach the school buildings and parking lots.

For example, they were not aware of which areas were most vulnerable to attack by sniper gun fire while approaching a particular building.

Furthermore, emergency personnel were unaware of building construction and structural information that would have assisted them to strategically plan entry into various building locations.

These unknowns, and many others, greatly increased the risk to those individuals responding to the crisis.

As a result of these intense stimuli, some of the rescue team members who had prolonged exposure to this environment, suffered from vertigo, which adversely affected their perception and balance.

Needless to say, this situation detrimentally affected their effectiveness and posed an otherwise unnecessary risk to these individuals.

However, because emergency personnel did not know how to shut off the alarm systems, these strategically undesirable conditions persisted, making an already intensely stressful situation even more difficult.

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