Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) Incident Command System (ICS) Project

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Event Surveillance and Coordination System (ESCS)

The GSAR ICS Project addressed a big gap within the Canadian ground search and rescue landscape. The GSAR ICS project team was led by CounterCrisis Tech to address this technology gap by developing two solutions:
1) IC4W Cloud, an integrated solution that leverages the ICS concept of operations and established GSAR workflows, and 2) a TAK solution called Lightning with Search Manager and Searcher plug-ins.

The GSAR ICS Project

 

GSAR in Canada is administered by federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal organizations with the support of 300 volunteer SAR teams across the country. 

The varying GSAR applications that are in use currently have the following limitations:  

  • technology doesn’t integrate with the common productivity apps used my most organizations within the GSAR community;
  • technology is not interoperable;
  • tech doesn’t scale for large scale multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional incidents;
  • little to no automation of data collection or entry;
  • insufficient data being generated for knowledge management to inform policy and budgeting; and
  • some existing GSAR tech is difficult or awkward to use and is unreliable.

The good news is that most Canadian GSAR organizations have adopted the standard ICS concept of operations as well as a standard approach to GSAR workflow.

 

The following lists some of the advanced capabilities:

 

IC4W Cloud

  • mobile, configurable, scalable, and interoperable
  • flexible incident management, reporting and knowledge management capabilities
  • integration with existing technology investments and a plug-in architecture that enables onboarding of new capabilities
  • integration with ArcGIS and SARCOP

Lightning

  • online/offline capability with real-time situational awareness and communications at the tactical edge
  • automated data collection and storage including evidence, images, videos and chat

The GSAR ICS Project was delivered by an experienced industry team with specialized solutions and expertise. The project was also supported by a deeply experienced GSAR National Advisory Group, representative of the pan-Canadian GSAR and public safety community.

The GSAR ICS Project, funded by Public Safety Canada, was aimed at implementing a national technology platform with voluntary participation by SAR organizations. 

For more information on IC4W Cloud, visit our Products page on this site or Contact Us.  
For more information on Lightning, visit KWESST.com.

Event Surveillance and Coordination System (ESCS)

What is it?

An integrated web-based Event Surveillance and Coordination System (ESCS) that provides real-time intelligence and operational information on disasters and emergencies, enabling more coordinated and effective preparedness, response, and recovery on the part of the Canadian Red Cross.

Why does the Red Cross need it?

 

  • To monitor and analyze events and emerging hazards 24x7x365.
  • To assess the exposure and impact of disasters on vulnerable populations, infrastructure, and assets.
  • To coordinate and communicate with partners and stakeholders using automated decision support tools and a common operational picture.
  • To leverage risk data and impact analysis to make decisions, plan and mitigate damage.