GIS for Public Safety

Maryland Emergency Geographic Information Network (MEGIN)
Maryland’s technology infrastructure for collaborative, secure decision-making.

MEGIN is Maryland’s coordinated information portal for serving geospatial information to the emergency management community at all levels of government—an interoperable, non-intrusive way to find and share data and integrate maps into decision-making before, during, and after an incident.

MEGIN was developed by the Towson University Center for Geographic Information Sciences on behalf of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency through a DHS ITEP grant. Since 2003 Maryland has endeavored to roll out an interoperable suite of incident management tools at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) as well as to local EOCs. Along with EMMA^©, the Emergency Management Mapping Application developed by Towson University, MEGIN delivers the right data, at the right time, to the right people. Together, EMMA^© and MEGIN create a federated system of data repositories and catalogs connected through Web services to ensure data integrity and security while providing access to the data for planning, mitigation, response, and recovery activities.

EMMA^© is a secure, content- and tool-rich Web-based mapping application that enables first responders and emergency managers to share a common operating picture by locating incidents on a map, describing affected areas, and viewing relevant real-time information. Along with operational and situational status, the information is presented and shared using WebEOC, a Critical Information Management System (CIMS) that MEMA has made available to emergency managers and other response partners at all levels of Maryland government. Information within WebEOC can also be shared to users of other CIMS software (e.g., outside of Maryland) via an interoperable backbone for accessibility to the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). EMMA^© transforms disparate information into a common operating picture using a language that everyone can understand—maps—by accessing geospatial data via MEGIN. Built upon ESRI software and established standards, EMMA^© displays relevant information before, during, and after incidents and emergencies. EMMA^© provides basic and advanced tools for map visualization, location analysis, and report generation via a standard Web browser, such as Internet Explorer.

WebEOC provides a time- and a list-oriented view of information. EMMA^© provides a place-oriented view of the same information. MEGIN serves as the secure clearinghouse that organizes and protects the data. Together, this suite of emergency management tools supports collaborative decision-making across disparate emergency management communities.

Click here to read more about EMMA.

Click here to share your data for emergency management.