911 dispatchers get big picture

3-D Pictometry to help size up emergency scene

A new technology called Pictometry is being rolled out at all five Charleston County emergency dispatch centers that provides 911 dispatchers with a three-dimensional picture of the location of a police, fire or EMS call.

It gives a dispatcher up to 20 views of a 911 call location as a supplement to the system that identifies an emergency call location on a map. For police, Pictometry can provide a view of back alleys and neighboring buildings where a suspect might try to escape or hide. For firefighters, Pictometry gives a better idea of the size of a building or any obstacles that first responders might face, said William Tunick, Charleston County Telecommunications and 911 Director.

A two-month pilot program in which emergency dispatchers used Pictometry has been a success, so the program is being expanded. The Sheriff's Office and EMS, as well as North Charleston, Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms will have the tool, Tunick said.

The $126,000 Pictometry technology was bought with county general funds. It has been used for two years by other county departments such as the tax assessor and building services. To use it for emergency services will take a $20,000 upgrade, Tunick said.

"We are constantly looking for new technological advancements, and we are excited to have Pictometry, which is a major enhancement for our county in providing specific location information during an emergency," Tunick said.

Pictometry provides dispatchers with tools that allow them to measure distance, area and height of structures. Dispatchers will be able to provide the distance of a road not easily seen by the responders on the ground at night, officials said. The images for Pictometry were obtained in 2007 by planes with high-resolution cameras that flew a grid pattern over the county. The images will be updated in 2009.

Pictometry allows the 911 dispatcher to view an incident scene from the north, south, east, west and directly above. It can provide a 360-degree view of any area in Charleston County, he said. The tool allows dispatchers to keep a record of ongoing events such as a hazardous spill, he said.

Dispatchers are able to draw and erase on the image to note where a specific scene is. They can use icons to represent what units are on scene and mark areas of concern or interest for first responders, Tunick said.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.