129 SAFER has gained daily use across multiple city departments, increasing collaboration among city staff. When problems occur, it provides clarity, allowing first responders to get critical information fast. Meeting Needs and Finding Champions Today, SAFER supports the needs of all first responders and has become a passion project for Olson, who pioneered the system. She now oversees all enterprise GIS for the city. Olson first earned the trust of public safety professionals by using GIS to make sure all city roads and addresses—even those still in the planning phase—were accurately mapped. Public Safety “Back when I started in 2001, we didn’t have an IT department, but city leadership embraced the power of GIS,” said Susan Olson, assistant director of IT, and lead for GIS and SAFER. “I was told, ‘We need GIS because we can’t grow without understanding our city.’” Frisco police chief David Shilson likes how SAFER provides access to information in the field for faster responses and resolutions. “In simple calls like minor accidents, dispatchers and responding officers can pull up traffic cameras through links in SAFER and determine the best approach. In larger scenes, incident commanders can look at where units are in order to quickly set perimeters and direct incoming resources.” SAFER started with the school district. One of the first steps was integrating school floor plans with links to cameras aimed at school hallways and access points.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA2NTE0Mw==