By: Patrick Stone, RA, LEED AP and Chris Kobos, PMP GISP

Introduction

The population in the state of Florida is growing at a rate unlike any other in the nation. According to a report from U.S. News & World Report, Florida’s population has grown by eight percent since 2020, more than any other state during that span. Populous regions across the state including Wildwood-The Villages, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Ocala and Port St. Lucie rank among the top fastest-growing metro areas in the nation in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While the population increase may bolster the economy and create opportunities for businesses to thrive, there are rising concerns on how to effectively meet the needs of these expanding communities in the event of an emergency. The rapid population growth strains public safety infrastructure, making it essential to select the optimal location for updated, larger emergency response facilities.

This is where geographic information systems (GIS) become valuable. GIS is comprised of geospatial software, data and sophisticated analysis tools used to incorporate large datasets into a map-based user interface. These tools provide first responders with critical, spatially aware analysis for pre-incident planning, routing, and emergency response. GIS can also be used to help determine the best locations for a new public safety facility by assessing and identifying gaps in minimum station response times and driving distances as they relate to geolocated incidents and municipal growth patterns.

The Strain on Public Safety Infrastructure

                Population growth in the Sunshine State poses significant challenges for environmental management and urban planning, but also exponentially increases demands on public safety agencies. Higher population density directly correlates with an increase in call volumes and traffic congestion, which can result in longer response times.

In order to service these communities, first responders are faced with the challenge of adapting to the increased demand for public safety agencies and infrastructure. The National Fire Protection Association Standard 1710 & 1720 set requirements for effective and efficient organization and deployment of fire suppression operations, emergency medical operations, and special operations to the public by career and volunteer fire departments to protect citizens and the occupational safety and health of fire department employees.

According to the NFPA 1710 standard, first due engines are expected to arrive on the scene within four minutes for fire suppression, 90 percent of the time. What impact on travel time can we expect in areas where major population growth is projected? Increases in call volume can negatively impact how quickly crews can respond. Factors like traffic congestion, staffing levels, and the number of calls can all contribute to longer response times.

A rapid increase in population can also quickly exceed the capacity of outdated public safety infrastructure, often requiring equipment and personnel to be relocated across various locations within the community to meet growing needs. This approach is less than ideal, as it stretches resources, can disrupt staff cohesion, and may lead to inconsistent response times.

Perhaps most impactful, increased call volume can leave staff overworked and overstressed. Although state regulations continue to evolve and station designers shift priorities to emphasize employee wellness, these principles alone cannot offset the strain felt by first responders facing increasing surges in call patterns.

The Role of GIS in Public Safety

Just as a visually appealing new station may not contain all the essential elements for operational success, a flat, five-acre parcel may not be the ideal site for a new facility. Architects routinely conduct feasibility studies for both current stations and possible new locations. Collaborating with a GIS specialist can help rule out certain sites or uncover options that might have been overlooked before using data.

For station siting, GIS can use regional growth patterns, incident location data, and spatial analysis to determine the most effective locations for a new emergency response facility. Processing several years of geolocated incidents, GIS develops heat maps that showcase clusters of call density. By locating these areas, GIS technology helps identify potential station sites that accommodate the increased call volume and distribution of the area.

Understandably, many municipalities prefer to locate their public safety facilities in the heart of their downtowns, both to showcase these civic buildings in a central setting and out of the belief that such siting best supports emergency response operations. However, in certain instances, GIS may reveal traffic patterns during peak hours that could adversely affect response times, thereby rendering specific downtown locations impractical.

GIS can also play a crucial role in supporting Florida’s response to major storm events, which threaten public safety infrastructure with potential damage to facilities and power outages that may delay emergency responses. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan categorizes the state’s natural hazards to include floods, tropical cyclones, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, sinkholes, extreme heat, erosion, winter weather, drought, earthquakes and tsunamis. Southeast Florida is in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), which poses a significantly higher risk of damage brought on by extreme winds and windborne debris. In terms of storm response, GIS is used to identify residents affected by outages, identify, locate, and track the repair of damaged infrastructure, and alert residents to shelter locations and evacuation routes.

Conclusion

Population growth across Florida intensifies the need for new or expanded public safety facilities. By integrating GIS into planning, public safety officials and first responders can coordinate a variety of emergency response needs. As communities continue to grow in the region, integrating GIS into your planning process will be crucial to ensure that emergency response remains timely and effective, ultimately safeguarding both first responders and the residents they serve.