USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer for Search and Rescue

While we always want to use the most up to date maps (a Local GIS-produced basemap, World Topographic, Open Street Map)  for our missing person search operations - there are times when historic maps are necessary for our investigation. For instance what if your missing person was believed to be carrying a historic map - you might want to interpret the landscape through the same map they were using. 

This dynamic map allows you to view and download historic quad maps based on location - this could be a very useful tool for Search and Rescue in the US! 

Check it out: USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer

1) Type in a place and click on the map
2) Click timeline maps to view in main window

3) Slide transparency on map to compare, or drag/drop to re-order maps

The downloads appear to be available as geo-pdfs only - but these may be converted to more GIS friendly formats (.tif). I look forward to hearing if any teams have used this resource and any feedback they may have. 

If you simply want a seamless USGS Topo - this is already a layer in ArcGIS Online that can be used as a basemap in ArcGIS Desktop or ArcGIS Online while connected to the internet.


View Larger Map

If you are looking for the USGS topographic maps to run locally in ArcMap - most states have a download page for pulling the digital raster graphics (DRGs). I have also heard that Matt Jacobs from CalTopo can show how to use the seamless tiles he has produced inside your GIS. 

However - basemaps should always be suspect to currency and  used in conjunction with your local minimum essential dataset (read Chapter 3).

Thanks USGS for making data open and easier to find!

Search and Rescue GIS Resources for New Mexico

They are even making maps during the football game!!!

We are here at the MapSAR Training at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. The class had about 20-25 participants total and we kicked it off with a public colloquium on Friday night. Then on Saturday we walked through MapSAR tutorials using a missing person search scenario in Yosemite National Park. On Sunday we finished up the lessons and repeated them using local New Mexico data to reinforce the elements learned in the tutorial. The class had a great mix of SAR volunteers, GIS students, and some people who have done both SAR & GIS. 

So, because it went so well, I thought I would take a moment to document some resources for the students and those who could not make it today. 

Base Data

http://rgis.unm.edu/browsedata

The best resource for data specific to New Mexico is RGIS, the New Mexico Geographic Information System Program, where you can browse and search for a diversity of datasets, as indicated in the figure on the right.  All data offered through RGIS are FREE.

The Boundaries folder for instance has Wilderness Boundary layers available for download. The Transportation folder contains datasets like the Continental Divide Trail. Vector datasets like these should be downloaded as shapefiles and added to ArcMap.

Aerial imagery is available in the Digital Orthophotography folder and elevation data (Digital Elevation Models) in the Elevation folder. For instance, here is a statewide 60m DEM. There are also 7.5' USGS Topographic maps available in the Topographic folder. Raster datasets like these come in a variety of data formats including .tif, .sid, etc. Read up on adding raster data to a map.

Just in case you need a refresher on vector vs raster....

Vector Data

A coordinate-based data model that represents geographic features as points, lines, and polygons. Each point feature is represented as a single coordinate pair, while line and polygon features are represented as ordered lists of vertices. Attributes are associated with each vector feature, as opposed to a raster data model, which associates attributes with grid cells. 

Raster Data

A spatial data model that defines space as an array of equally sized cells arranged in rows and columns, and composed of single or multiple bands. Each cell contains an attribute value and location coordinates. Unlike a vector structure, which stores coordinates explicitly, raster coordinates are contained in the ordering of the matrix. Groups of cells that share the same value represent the same type of geographic feature. 

Definitions from the GIS Dictionary

For more tips and tricks, see the chapter on creating a Minimum Essential Dataset for your response area, see the Using GIS for Wildland Search and Rescue eBook.

GIS Training  

Esri Training (training.esri.com)

• Getting started with GIS (free 4-hour online course)
• ArcGIS 1: Introduction to GIS (2-days with Instructor)

University Training

• GIS Course Listing
• New Mexico State University Geography Department
• Central New Mexico Community College

Help & Resources

Here are some resources for getting help with MapSAR, IGT4SAR, and ArcMap.

• MapSAR Training Videos
• IGT4SAR Training Videos
• ArcGIS Help
• ArcGIS for Emergency Management 
• GIS Stack Exchange

Discussion Topics
Here are some of the topics that came up during the class that we would like to open up to the community.

• Integration of SAR Theory into GIS 
• Assignment versus Segments
• Making maps for mobile via pdf
• Real-time GIS (Integration APRS, ArcGIS Online with Collector)
• State-wide SAR Minimum Essential Dataset
• Pre-planning Search Segments (see blog post)
• Fast Basemaps (see blog post)
• Beyond MapSAR (Analysis tools using DEM such as slope, viewshed, elevation profile, etc)

Thank you

• Dr. Michaela Buenemann & New Mexico State University Geography Department and New Mexico SAR Council for hosting this event
• Jon Pedder and the Sierra Madre SAR Team for developing MapSAR
• NAPSG Foundation for sponsoring the event
• Lorri Peltz-Lewis and the GISCorps for their continued support

Stay tuned...

• The training materials will be posted as soon as we have incorporated feedback
• We will use this as a template to help other instructors teach this in their own community
• Teaming up with a local University has proven to be a great way to introduce GIS experts and SAR Teams!

Dont' forget to add your team to our map (lat/long)!

View Larger Map

Search and Rescue GIS Resources for Canada

After our recent MapSAR Training event at SARScene Canada 2013, Rick Laing of Ridge Meadows SAR, Elaine Girrior of Yellowknife SAR, and Peter Devanney of SAR Global 1 agreed to put together a shortlist of resources to start discussion and establish SARGIS collaboration across Canada. Here is what we have put together (this information may be useful even if your response area is outside of Canada).

Basemaps

With regards to basemaps there are many resources available to you already while connected to the internet. For instance, below is a map of all of the Community Maps Program participants who adding even more detail to the World Topographic basemaps. Also within ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Desktop you have access to the basemap produced by the Open Street Map program. 

View Larger Map

To open these in ArcMap simply use the add basemaps function...

Here is a snapshot of some highly detailed data for Coquitlam 

Base Data

There is a whole section about how to organize your Minimum Essential Data in the Using GIS for Wildland Search and Rescue textbook (free download) and also in an earlier blog post "Pre-planning is half the battle". Base data can be tricky for new GIS users because these datasets tend be rather scattered across the internet and are hard to track down if you do not already work with a GIS Specialist. But we thought we would point out some Canada-specific data sources for all of you here.  

• Search ArcGIS Online 
• GeoGratis Prepackaged data sets (geodatabase by data type / Province)
• GeoGratis Geospatial Data Extraction tool
• GeoGratis CanVec Vector Data
• GeoGratis Toporama Topographic Maps 
• Centre for Topographic Information vector data ftp site
• Centre for Topographic Information elevation data ftp site
• GeoBase Web Mapping Service (adding WMS to ArcGIS Desktop) 
• MapTown Topographic Maps (not free)
• Quebec 1:20,000 Topo  (not free)

In many cases this will require you to download the data in various formats, unzip the data, add it to your map, and style it appropriately. 

Creating a layer package clipped for your specific area is a great way to keep these data portable and organized. When you unpack them they keep your geography and symbology and can be stored locally, on a portable drive, and ArcGIS Online.

ArcGIS Desktop for Nonprofit Organization Program by Esri Canada. Go to the website and Request Application for Membership

• $100 for ArcGIS Desktop (administrative fee)
• Designed for small ground SAR organizations in Canada 
• Organization can not be a Nationwide and/or Government owned agency
• Community Based Non Profit Volunteer Organization (with or without a CRA#)
• Must be associated with SARVAC, CASARA, or Northwest Territories
• CRA Charity registration number - not needed, simply note your relationship with SARVAC

Download MapSAR template for ArcGIS Desktop from www.mapsar.net

MapSAR is a free tool that runs with ArcGIS 10, 10.1, and 10.2 to store geospatial information, enabling SAR maps to be generated, stored, and printed quickly so that search teams can get out the door faster to look for the missing person.

Join our Discussion Group!

A group for National Park Rangers, Sheriffs, Mountain Rescue Associations and other emergency service people to discuss and help others use and implement GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology in SAR (Search and Rescue), emergency and day to day operations. Central to our group’s goals is to make GIS techniques and technologies more accessible to non-specialists. Towards this end, we have continued to explore techniques and technologies that can create a more streamlined workflow and effective situational awareness when using GIS. 

What's next?

From here we hope the real discussions can begin. 

• Should there be a Canada SARGIS User Group? 
• Where will the next MapSAR Training be? 
• How can base data and even pre-planned operational data be stored and shared for teams to utilize (see example)?
• How do I meet local GIS Specialists and work with agencies already using GIS in my area? 

In the meantime, please do visit the NAPSG MapSAR and IGT4SAR for online training videos and stay informed via the SARGIS Discussion Group. Don just uploaded a video that highlights the importance of minimum essential datasets and breaks down some GIS basics here in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdOM9RsQ1ZI

Let's continue the discussion and collaborate around this topic. 

A Remedy for Your Basemap Blues

Problem: Slow Maps

So you are on a search and rescue mission using ArcGIS Desktop and while panning and zooming around the map, you are continuously waiting for basemaps to "re-draw". You can't guarantee an internet connection so you want to utilize your local data.

 Solution: Basemap Layers

Some nerdy GIS talk from the help documentation: "Basemap layers are a kind of map layer that provides a framework onto which you display your dynamic operational information. Basemap display performance is very fast. Since basemap layers are relatively static and do not change frequently, their display can be computed once and reused many times. The first time you visit an area at a particular map scale, basemap layer display is computed. The display is recalled on return visits to that area and map scale."

It is FAST! So let's get started.

Step one - Cartography

So this step will vary based on what you use as basemaps for your area. A long time ago Liz Sarow from Esri showed me how to make a nice hill-shaded topo from publicly available data. For California here are some resources:

1) Topos available as Digital Raster Graphics

2) 30m Digital Elevation Models available as Images (or these can be made with any DEM using the Hillshade tool)

The next trick is to add these to your map and style appropriately. I personally use a hillshade-on-topo "sandwich" - but I set hillshade properties as transparency of ~55% and Resample to bilinear interpolation.

Map sandwich!

Step two - Add a New Basemap Layer

Right-click the data frame name in the table of contents and click New Basemap Layer.

Step three - Select the Layers 

Select the layers that will comprise your basemap and drag them into the basemap layer.Now you have a topo map that also highlights the terrain in your area - more importantly we can now pan and zoom around the map without waiting for redraw.

Please see the help document for more information. You can download my example as a tile package here and the try the steps above.

Other recommendations

• Create these and store them for your areas of operational responsibility so they are ready to go ahead of time. These can be stored locally and remotely using Dropbox or ArcGIS Online.
• Do not add any vector layers to your map that you plan on tracing for editing or clicking for attributes - this removes data access. No big deal if you do, just remember to pull the layers back out of the Basemap layer when you need them.
• Whenever possible - use ArcGIS Online basemaps, they render quickly and feature more often updated content than your old topo and trail maps. See the World Topo Community Basemap and Open Streetmap 
• RTFM Read the Free Manual: there are lots of other tips & tricks you can use in the ArcGIS Help documentation. Also - join our discussion group and ask the SARGIS geeks yourself!