how to make map book

[fozz1988]

i no this sounds like a dumb basic question but i was just wondering how one would go about making a map book. if there is a program that one uses or anything

[Catch22]

Get with your 911 agency and ask if they've got one they use. If they don't, see if they won't develop one. If used to it's full capability and done right, your 911 can send a mapbook page number with your page-outs to help find an address easier. If they send cross-streets with the mapbook page, it's easier yet.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Contact your department of public works/highway department.

If you live in the snowbelt area, they may already have map books drawn up for plowing routes.

Why reinvent the wheel?

[FireStick]

If you absolutely have to draw one, try Google Sketchup. It's free.

[FWDbuff]

i no this sounds like a dumb basic question but i was just wondering how one would go about making a map book. if there is a program that one uses or anything

What does "i no" mean?

[PaladinKnight]

Start with a map of your district. Perhaps you can get that from your county court house. You most likely will have to build it from scratch. Also check with your 911 Supervisor if one exists.

I am not aware of any software program that 'automatically' builds map books. The closest thing that have used and seen is ArcGIS. it has been around for awhile and is user-friendly for the most part. The data still has to be plugged in. You will need somewhat advanced computer skills to design specific maps.

We use GIS coupled with Google Earth and build overlays for different assets, like water supply, houses and addresses, ect. We can add or delete any overlay as needed for whatever purpose. We do not use map-books. We use laptops in our apparatus that use a digital link through our com center. All data is sent to the trucks and the officer can manipulate the data and overlays for his liking.

Depending on your situation, it could take a very long time and alot of hard work to build the book. Of course you can pay someone do build it for you depending on your resources.

[ATFDFF]

What does "i no" mean?

Another great, constructive contribution to the conversation. Thanks for the great input.

I'd go to your village first, and if they don't have suitable maps go to the state. As was said earlier, they probably have maps for snowplow routes, that you could use as a starting point.

[Eng34FF]

I'm in the process now of updating our maps. The old ones were hand drawn, so no computer files. The county had a GIS survey done and put on a web site, but the maps it prints are too small and don't cover convenient areas. I've been cutting and pasting to powerpoint and then tracing over an re-numbering in order to get street names and addresses legible.

Probably not the easiest way, but it works with the tools I have available.

[Just a new name]

We are using this: http://www.wthtechnology.com/Products/gis/think_gis.htm

The Think GIS is pretty neat.

[RFD21C]

We have both the computer MDT based maps and Older hand sketched maps. I prefer the handmade maps. Easy to up date, never break, and you can custom make them. We have all kind of notes and such written on them. Our hydrant man just flips to the page andd gives the driver the directions.

I would call the local government and see what they have, i am sure they have something. if they already have a map book then you can can make custom pages to fit your needs. For instance a page that has a blow up of a housing project or warehouse complex. Then hand mark the hydrants. Write little notes such as gates, street to narrow to fit truck, etc.

Yes this is going to take alot of time. However deligate this to your men. What better is their to learn the district.

If they do not have a map book. get a wall map and start drawing.

[ChiefKN]

For confusing developments or large apartment complexes, this is what I did.

Google maps, get the "aerial view".

Then photoshop the building numbers and street names, hydrants etc. I even highlighted the roads to make it easier to pick them out.

This is an example, which I laminated. I did almost all of this work right at my computer and then did a drive/walk around marking hydrants.

We have a couple of these garden apartment complexes, and they are a maze.

I have used these numerous times and they were KEY! These are full 8x12's. I had to shrink it to fit here.

[Chenzo]

For confusing developments or large apartment complexes, this is what I did.

Google maps, get the "aerial view".

Then photoshop the building numbers and street names, hydrants etc. I even highlighted the roads to make it easier to pick them out.

This is an example, which I laminated. I did almost all of this work right at my computer and then did a drive/walk around marking hydrants.

We have a couple of these garden apartment complexes, and they are a maze.

I have used these numerous times and they were KEY! These are full 8x12's. I had to shrink it to fit here.

That's a damn good idea. I just might have to use that same idea when I update our maps.

[snowball]

Another great, constructive contribution to the conversation. Thanks for the great input.

The guy is going to be making a map, you'd think that spelling would be an issue for street names.

Google GIS programs. They are expensive but you can design your own layout if you have funky streets.

[jbrescue]

Depending on the size of your community and the number of streets, this is what I did....

I made a book with turn by turn directions to every street from the station. You look up the street name and it shows the directions. Address splits are important for lnger streets to get their the most efficient way as well. This is very easy to set up and update once you have all the information.

[ChiefKN]

Depending on the size of your community and the number of streets, this is what I did....

I made a book with turn by turn directions to every street from the station. You look up the street name and it shows the directions. Address splits are important for lnger streets to get their the most efficient way as well. This is very easy to set up and update once you have all the information.

This is how we did it for a long time. It worked great, unless you were coming from somewhere other then the station.

[mtg55]

We use a box card system in our local. Whatever box number is dispatched, you can go right to the page (or file, now that we have data terminals) for that specific box. We have ours professionally done, which is great if you have the money. The big things to think about regardless of how you design them are address, hydrant location, water supply locations (draft points), and a directional point of reference. Keep it as simple as possible for ease of use. I've seen some departments that you need a degree in topography just to respond into their local...

http://www.newtownfire.com/map_pages.html

[Doorbreaker]

We don't have a lot of roads in the district but they can be interesting. With almost 1/3 being seasonal it can be interesting if you don't know the proper roads. I have made up intersection books and single panel wall maps for each station. Used both google maps and MS Street and trips. Neat thing with MS is that you can load it into a laptop. Connect the GPS sensor and drive around the district. The GPS allows you to hit a couple keys and log in particular items onto the map. Water sources close to the roads, actual address information on seasonals, locations of bad radio or cell reception.

Then my current plan is a larger wall map, with transparent overlays for the above.
Plus smaller map books for the rigs.

As for using the county system, well it would work, but half of the roads are missing and others have the wrong names.

For those of you who use Google maps, take a CLOSE look at the names and roads they list. They will be VERY happy to change names and even add hidden roads if you notify them of the problem areas. I did that with a few of ours and am gradually woring on the outlying areas as well.

[ScareCrow57]

You can use Geographical Information Systems from MapInfo or ESRI to do this. However GIS systems are intended to do way more than just create maps. They are a way to analyze what is going on based on geographical information. Companies use this type of software to see where they are getting sales, it is used to track diseases and such. In the fire service it could be used to track where the most calls are and even track which areas have more intense calls. In the EMS services you could also track where the class are. This would allow you to better deploy your manpower and equipment

There is also this package On-Scene Xplorer It does the mapping and pre-planning. You can also add hardened PCs to the trucks to carry all your stuff.

[CaptOldTimer]

Why not learn your district? It worked years back and can still work.

The Officer conducts a daily drill each morning asking the members a street location and how do we get there from here.

I don't own a GPS thing. Our kids do and they can't go anywhere without putting in the address and listening to a voice tell them to turn here or turn there.

Too mush BS!!

[JTFIRE80]

Although a PITA, AutoCad works great. We've been using it for about 10 years now and thankfully have a few engineer's(not the driver type) in the Dept who are proficient with it.

http://ugfd.org/custom.html?id=6767