GPS equipment may help game wardens in crisis situations
It hasn't happened yet, but Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens are ready for a possible terrorist attack or disaster in a rural area of Texas.
A newly formed Game Warden GIS team underwent training in a
simulated disaster using the latest satellite imagery and mapping technology.
At Parrie Haynes Ranch near Killeen, game warden Jim Lindeman recently took part in a mock scenario where a plane carrying radioactive material crashed. He searched for debris that could include hazardous material.
The drill will help wardens respond to all disasters by training them in the latest mapping and global positioning technology.
"GPS technology can be used for just about every facet of our business. So we felt like it was time that we went ahead and got more game wardens to experience it in a drill before they really have to use it," Capt. Audie Nelson said.
GPS uses satellites to accurately pinpoint locations on the earth.Game wardens are using GPS equipment to aid in crisis prevention in rural areas.
"It's a way of keeping track of where you're assigned to be and where you've been so you can do a more systematic search," GIS lab manager Kim Ludeke said.
It may sound simple, but it requires some practice. The learning experience includes not just GPS, but also GIS, or geographical information system.
"GIS is a way of putting data that we have collected into a visual form that we can make sense of," Ludeke said.
"I wish we'd had this training and this technology when the shuttle came apart. That would have made things a whole lot easier, and faster," game warden John Thorne said.
"When they had the shuttle event happen in East Texas, there was a lot of game wardens that participated in that. Collecting that debris and using some of this type of equipment. They know landowners, knew those woods, how to get into them. Also game wardens, in the event that something does happen, we're usually the people in a rural area that have the equipment that can get there," Nelson said.
Now when wardens respond to an emergency situation, they will not only have knowledge of the area and the equipment that can get them there, they can also share detailed maps and information electronically with other responders.
"We want to be prepared in this same situation because it is an important part of Texas homeland security," Nelson said.
A newly formed Game Warden GIS team underwent training in a
simulated disaster using the latest satellite imagery and mapping technology.
At Parrie Haynes Ranch near Killeen, game warden Jim Lindeman recently took part in a mock scenario where a plane carrying radioactive material crashed. He searched for debris that could include hazardous material.
The drill will help wardens respond to all disasters by training them in the latest mapping and global positioning technology.
"GPS technology can be used for just about every facet of our business. So we felt like it was time that we went ahead and got more game wardens to experience it in a drill before they really have to use it," Capt. Audie Nelson said.
GPS uses satellites to accurately pinpoint locations on the earth.Game wardens are using GPS equipment to aid in crisis prevention in rural areas.
"It's a way of keeping track of where you're assigned to be and where you've been so you can do a more systematic search," GIS lab manager Kim Ludeke said.
It may sound simple, but it requires some practice. The learning experience includes not just GPS, but also GIS, or geographical information system.
"GIS is a way of putting data that we have collected into a visual form that we can make sense of," Ludeke said.
"I wish we'd had this training and this technology when the shuttle came apart. That would have made things a whole lot easier, and faster," game warden John Thorne said.
"When they had the shuttle event happen in East Texas, there was a lot of game wardens that participated in that. Collecting that debris and using some of this type of equipment. They know landowners, knew those woods, how to get into them. Also game wardens, in the event that something does happen, we're usually the people in a rural area that have the equipment that can get there," Nelson said.
Now when wardens respond to an emergency situation, they will not only have knowledge of the area and the equipment that can get them there, they can also share detailed maps and information electronically with other responders.
"We want to be prepared in this same situation because it is an important part of Texas homeland security," Nelson said.
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