Woo Hoo! Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre!

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE INNOVATION CENTRE

*************************

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre receives award for Vulnerable Persons Registry
 
Registry uses Esri GIS technology to improve the safety of vulnerable residents during emergencies
 
(April 24, 2012) - he Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) today announced that the organization’s Community Geomatics Centre has been recognized by Esri Canada for integrating Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) technology in the development of the Vulnerable Persons Registry (VPR).

SSMIC, in partnership with Accessibility Sault Ste. Marie and other groups, developed the registry as an all-encompassing approach to emergency planning which improves the safety of persons with all types of vulnerabilities in emergency situations.

SSMIC today received the Esri Canada Award of Excellence for this outstanding GIS application.

“In addressing the unique needs of people with vulnerabilities, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre is changing the face of emergency planning,” says Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada. “Leveraging their advanced community GIS for this pioneering registry relieves emergency management agencies from maintaining data, and allows them to focus on immediate action and quicker response. This registry gives new meaning to public service accessibility and efficiency.”

Esri’s ArcGIS technology allows for immediate access of critical registrant data in all emergencies.

Data on VPR registrants is activated only during 911 calls and displayed on the City’s emergency dispatch systems which are integrated with the GIS.

For home emergencies, first-responder dispatchers will see a flag on their screen if a 911 call received is from a VPR registrant.

First responders will be able to pull key information about that person’s vulnerability (e.g., if he/she bed-ridden, deaf or has another disability) to effectively provide assistance.

During large-scale emergencies, the community’s emergency command centre can access the VPR to help fire, police, ambulance, and search and rescue agencies to allocate resources appropriately.

The registry also integrates with the PUC’s GIS, enabling the utility to notify residents requiring electricity for life-sustaining support when they will be affected by a planned outage.

For extended unplanned outages, the PUC coordinates with multiple support agencies such as the Canadian Red Cross in order to assist vulnerable citizens.

“This registry is the culmination of eight years of hard work and is one of the boldest and most innovative projects we’ve ever done,” says Paul Beach, manager, Community Geomatics Centre, SSMIC. “We’ve created numerous GIS applications in the past and knew that we could rely on the system to integrate information on all types of health vulnerabilities. As such, the VPR is 25 times larger in scope than any other registry. It supports emergency planning and response for all types of vulnerabilities and emergency situations, may it be large or small scale. It’s a valuable public service project that we couldn’t have accomplished without courage, perseverance and GIS.”

The registry also serves as a transferrable model that can be utilized in communities around the world. 

The CGC can create a comprehensive resource package for interested communities, based on results from the Sault’s current pilot stage of the VPR.

Any Sault Ste. Marie resident within city limits who is without 24-hour support and experiences severe difficulty with mobility, vision, hearing, developmental or intellectual, cognitive or mental health is eligible to register.

Residents living in Sault Ste. Marie, Prince Township, Dennis Township or Rankin Reserve who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment such as oxygen, dialysis or air-conditioning/heat for body temperature regulation can also register.

Registration is free, voluntary and confidential.

“We launched the pilot with only 10 registrants, and the number has now grown to more than 50. We’re expecting more than 1,000 vulnerable persons in the City to benefit from the system. It’s a unique registry that focuses on improving emergency preparedness, while also serving as a central hub for vulnerable residents to learn about services available to help them live independently,” says Kimberley LeClair, VPR coordinator, SSMIC.

Saultites are encouraged to register.

The registration kits are accessible to clients of partnering agencies such as CNIB and Canadian Hearing Society.

The general public can register at the Accessibility Centre (John Rhodes) or Canadian Red Cross.

Online registration forms are available at this website.

Interested applicants can mail completed forms directly to the VPR Coordinator at the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s Community Geomatics Centre.

For more information visit here or contact the VPR coordinator at 705-942-6938, ext. 3041 or by e-mail. 

For more information on Esri’s ArcGIS technology, visit here .

*************************