Economic Development Briefing

Topic: Critical Incident Mapping and Communications Tools

Presenter: Mike Rodgers, Critical Response Group; Chief Chuck Foulke, MPD

Lunch Sponsor: TRC Companies, Inc.

During the Global War on Terrorism, the U.S. Special Operations Command was directed to increase the quantity of counter-terrorism operations conducted on a daily basis. This required collaboration, interoperability, and information-sharing between all branches of the military, intelligence agencies, and coalition partners. These efforts lead to the development, validation, and adoption of a communication technique called the Gridded Reference Graphic (GRG). The GRG is a visual communication tool that combines a gridded overlay with high-resolution overhead imagery enabling all mission participants to communicate off of a sheet of paper about unfamiliar locations. The GRG is used in every counter-terrorism mission conducted overseas, and its value rests in its ability to enable simple communication and collaboration for operators under stress in unfamiliar environments.
In 2013, GRG was transitioned home:  GRG can increase the safety of schools and businesses by enabling collaboration between first responders during emergencies at unfamiliar locations, improving communication and collaboration between first responders during critical incidents. CRG is already in use in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.