Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group

Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group
Name	Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group
Formation	2000s
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States

Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group The Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group is a collaborative body that coordinates geospatial information, mapping, and situational awareness among federal, state, and local agencies during complex incidents. It brings together participants from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security to support response and recovery. The group aligns with frameworks like the National Incident Management System and standards from organizations such as the Open Geospatial Consortium and the Federal Geographic Data Committee.

Overview and Purpose

The group was formed to provide a unified geospatial strategy to support operations led by entities including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Northern Command, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, and state emergency management agencies such as the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Its purpose is to enable interoperable mapping, remote sensing, imagery analysis, and geospatial intelligence for incidents like the Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and wildfires in California. The coordination enhances situational awareness for decision makers in bodies such as the National Response Coordination Center and the White House Homeland Security Council.

Organizational Structure

Membership typically includes representatives from the Department of the Interior, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, United States Census Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, and state geospatial offices. The group often establishes subcommittees mirrored after structures used by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and interagency working groups that engage with academic partners like University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Operational relationships exist with the Joint Interagency Task Force, regional fusion centers such as the New York State Intelligence Center, and international partners including United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs during transboundary crises.

Roles and Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include producing common operational pictures for incident commanders from organizations like U.S. Coast Guard, compiling geospatial datasets from sources such as Landsat program, Sentinel, and commercial imagery providers including Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs. The group defines workflows for tasks performed by agencies like the National Weather Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the State Department for mapping evacuation zones, damage assessment, critical infrastructure overlays, and resource allocation plans used by the Office of Management and Budget and lawmakers in United States Congress briefings.

Data Standards and Interoperability

Standards adoption emphasizes specifications from the Open Geospatial Consortium, metadata schemas aligned with the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and data formats compatible with systems developed by the Esri platform, QGIS, and software used by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The group promotes interoperability with catalogs such as the Geoplatform.gov and registries maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration. It addresses legal and policy frameworks including directives from the Office of the President of the United States and guidance influenced by acts such as the Freedom of Information Act and procurement regulations used by the General Services Administration.

Coordination and Incident Response Operations

During incidents, the group coordinates activation protocols consistent with the National Incident Management System and supports incident command posts like those established under the Incident Command System used in responses to events such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2018 Camp Fire. It interfaces with operational centers including the National Operations Center, regional FEMA regional offices, and state emergency operation centers in coordination with emergency services like the American Red Cross and international relief organizations exemplified by Médecins Sans Frontières. Tasks include rapid damage assessment, route planning for United States Postal Service and logistics providers, and support for law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation where mapping informs tactical decisions.

Training, Exercises, and Certification

Training programs leverage curricula from institutions such as the National Emergency Training Center, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and university extension programs at University of Maryland. Exercises are conducted in partnership with interagency drills like TOPOFF and regional tabletop exercises sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. Certification pathways reference competency models used by the Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and professional societies including the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for credentialing analysts and technical leads.

Governance, Funding, and Partnerships

Governance is coordinated through memoranda of understanding among agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Interior, and the Office of Management and Budget, with funding streams from appropriations authorized by United States Congress committees and grants administered through programs like the State Homeland Security Program. Partnerships extend to private sector firms such as Esri, Maxar Technologies, and cloud providers like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, and to non-governmental organizations including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for humanitarian mapping. International collaboration occurs with organizations such as United Nations Satellite Centre and multilateral exercises involving NATO partners like North Atlantic Treaty Organization members.

Category:Emergency management