Geographical Mapping and Jurisdictional Knowledge Flashcards
7 cards from real PSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geographical Mapping and Jurisdictional Knowledge flashcards as text
What is an 'AVL' system and how does it benefit a dispatcher?
Answer: Automatic Vehicle Location; it shows real-time GPS positions of units on a map
AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) uses GPS to display unit positions on the dispatcher's map in real time, enabling better unit management.
A dispatcher in a rural county receives a call from a caller who says they are 'on the dirt road behind Miller's Farm.' What is the dispatcher's best approach to identify the location?
Answer: Use local knowledge, aerial/satellite imagery layers, and ask the caller for any visible landmarks or mile markers
Rural calls often require combining local geographic knowledge, aerial imagery tools, and caller landmark descriptions to pinpoint a location.
Which mapping feature helps a dispatcher identify the correct fire hydrant locations nearest to a reported structure fire?
Answer: Hydrant inventory or utility layer within the GIS/CAD system
Hydrant inventory layers in GIS/CAD display the locations of fire hydrants, helping dispatchers and units plan water supply.
A dispatcher receives a 911 call that disconnects before any address information is obtained. The ALI shows a cell phone tower location rather than a precise GPS point. What does this indicate?
Answer: The cell phone did not transmit GPS coordinates, so only the approximate tower coverage area is known
When only a cell tower location is available (Phase I E911), the dispatcher knows the approximate area but not a precise address.
What is a 'mutual aid box alarm system' (MABAS) in terms of geographic mapping?
Answer: A regional agreement that assigns pre-determined resource responses from neighboring jurisdictions based on incident location and type
MABAS is a regional mutual aid system where geographic incident location and type automatically trigger predetermined responses from multiple agencies.
What does 'split jurisdiction' mean in public safety dispatching?
Answer: A situation where a single address or incident location falls under the authority of more than one agency
Split jurisdiction occurs when an incident location falls within overlapping authority areas, requiring coordination between multiple agencies.
A dispatcher notices that all incoming calls from a specific geographic grid are reporting the same hazardous materials spill. What mapping action should the dispatcher take?
Answer: Create a single major incident in CAD, define an impact zone on the map, and coordinate a unified response
Multiple calls from the same area for the same event should be consolidated into a single major incident with a mapped impact zone for coordinated response.