68 and providing a direct line of sight to the governor’s podium, was used by tactical agents who monitored the governor and inauguration guests and dignitaries. On the day of the event, two analysts tracked activity and social media to update threat assessments and inform all stakeholders. “If things changed quickly from a steady state to a crisis state, we were prepared for that,” Moseley said. Joint Operations and Peace of Mind Stephen Tidwell, now the director of the ALEA Administrative Bureau, led protective services for the inauguration event. His focus was on preserving order, preventing crime, and protecting people and property at the capitol. Tidwell’s and Bostic’s teams began collaborating early in the planning process, using maps and data from previous events as a starting point. “We put all of our site assessments together with the mapping tools,” Tidwell said. “This really allowed us that 30,000-foot view to make sure we were taking into account all potential choke points and vulnerable areas.” ALEA teams streamlined collaboration by sharing access to the digital twin and having stakeholders indicate where they would place their assets. For example, the Alabama Department of Transportation used the twin to guide and share barricade positioning. Indoors, ALEA developed detailed emergency plan maps showing the location of tactical assets such as safe rooms, alarms, and hazardous materials. A common refrain from those who saw the digital twin for the first time was that it lends peace of mind. “You’re able to look at this common operating picture and see that everybody’s where they’re supposed to be,” Tidwell said. If the situation turned critical, ALEA leaders could quickly review resources and move people to priority places. In addition to a joint operations center, Tidwell’s team had a mobile command post that was used for field staff support. Field agents visited the post to check in, pick up equipment, and receive operations plans and guidance. Conveying detailed plans through Mission meant that assignments were tightly tied to maps. The platform allowed both field and office teams to operate from the same source for real-time situational awareness. “Having that story told in one place allowed everybody to monitor and go along with what was unfolding out in the field during the event,” Tidwell said, “whether that was fire, EMS [emergency medical services], or the SWAT team.” Individuals who were not familiar with downtown Montgomery could easily assess the situation by referring to the digital twin, using it to visualize intersections, identify buildings, and guide decisions. Reality capture technology was used to create the digital twin of the capitol that allowed agents to explore and familiarize themselves with the area, before, during, and after the inauguration event. Image courtesy of ALEA.
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