Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Introduction to Geographic Intelligence for Fire and Emergency Services M0589

Training Specialist


Daniel Newland
301-447-1157

Delivery type


Online - Instructor Led

Continuing education units


4.2

ACE recommendation


Pending (ACE Review): In the upper-division baccalaureate degree category, 2 semester hours in fire science or emergency services.

Enrollment in mediated courses is currently on hold. This is an NFA Online mediated course taught by an instructor with multiple students. Lessons, activities and communication are taught asynchronously through NFA Online, allowing students to complete course work on their own time. Assignment completions have assigned time frames, and all course participants are expected to connect with each other and the instructor 2 or more times per week.

Enrollment in mediated courses is currently on hold. This 5-week course provides introductory-level information about geographic intelligence and geographic information systems (GISs). Participants learn about the various tools and strategies to obtain geographical intelligence for enhanced emergency planning and response, including United States National Grid (USNG) coordinates and GIS data types, as well as using the ArcGIS Online tool to create features and attributes, join information, create data and queries, run a map overlay, and analyze the geographic data.

During the course, participants will explore modules that include:

  • Geographic Information Systems.
  • Data Collection and Map Creation.
  • Querying Data and Graphic Presentation.
  • Decision-Making in Response and Mitigation.
  • Decision-Making in Recovery.

In the final project, participants will be able to apply the knowledge obtained throughout these modules to collect and analyze the geographic information from their own jurisdiction.


This course is relevant to any emergency services and support personnel.

Incident Command System (ICS)-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Preferred courses are Q0462 and Q0463, available through NFA Online.

Participants will complete a pre-course module prior to the start of the course so that they understand how to read USNG coordinates and can begin thinking about the geographic information in their own jurisdiction.