75. Comparison Between Current Methods of Indoor Network Analysis for Emergency Response Through BIM/CAD-GIS Integration

The main mission of the fire service is protecting life, assets, and natural resources from fire and other hazardous incidents. Geographic Information System (GIS) is supposed to ideally decrease the required time for dispatching first responders to the incident site, while it has some deficiencies in showing and analyzing indoor space and routing. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a data-rich, potential source for finding the most efficient routes within a building. Researchers have developed the methods, algorithms, and platforms to make indoor navigation analysis easy and understandable for occupants. They have worked on different alternatives of indoor network analysis through a process of applying the different methods to a study model, but it has not been defined which method is more appropriate to first responders’ responsibilities. This paper reports on indoor networks analysis for first responders considering the importance of route finding in emergencies. We analyzed the similarities and differences of each method and algorithm, created an indoor network through ESRI’s Campus Viewer Tool and conducted interviews with a fire marshal and his team. Participants reviewed eight models, including the indoor network analysis model created by the researchers. Findings revealed the indoor network analyses most compatible with the 3D model, easy to read, and understood by first responders.