Mapping Luke made easier with new intranet Web site Published Oct. 23, 2006 By Travis Smith 56th Range Management Office LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Map Quest, Google Earth, and Yahoo! Maps - all sound familiar, right? They are all familiar Web sites used to provide directions and mapping. The most recent addition to these is a mapping Web site added to the Luke Air Force Base Intranet that will provide access to interactive thematic geospatial data layers. What does that mean? It means that Luke now has a program that can be used for a variety of purposes including generating maps, locating buildings on base, emergency planning, analysis, Power Point slides and much more. There are nearly 100 data layers available for users to view, map and analyze. The themes of data layers include boundaries, communication, hydrography, military operations, transportation, utilities and many others. "If I need to check the status of a construction project on base I can go to the Web site, click on the building, and it will link to the construction database," said John Li, 56th Civil Engineer GeoBase manager. "So if my air conditioner is broken and I want to see what the status of the repair is, I can use this program to find out." "Geospatial" is the name of the field of digital mapping and is interchangeable with Geographic Information Systems. "GeoBase" is the name of the Air Force's geospatial program, which regulates standards for mapping, geographic information systems, global positioning systems and remote sensing, that is, satellite photography. The geospatial market is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. GIS is now used in every sector from health care, to tracking hurricanes and flooding, to strategically mapping the battlefield. GeoBase provides mission support to numerous offices on base, and the uses are growing daily. Civil engineering uses GeoBase for real estate management, planning, landscaping, design, construction management, encroachment, noise abatement and transportation, to name a few. The 56th Range Management Office maps military operations occurring on the Barry M. Goldwater Range, manages airspace operations throughout Arizona and generates tactical chart maps for the fighter squadrons on base. Natural and cultural resources are also mapped for protection and conservation, and for providing geospatial support to 56th CES Explosive Ordinance Disposal while they are clearing the ranges. The GeoBase program is implementing several other applications throughout the Air Force that will improve day-today operations. A telephone-based emergency alert system is driven using geospatial layers and computer generated cordons, to notify personnel of hazardous situations in real time. "There's a simple buffering tool for emergency response," said Mr. Li. "If we get a bomb threat, the program will determine the buffer zone. We know how far out we have to clear the area, and we can notify the facility manager to evacuate the building." Maps and visual display systems will provide emergency vehicles with addresses and routing information. Aerial and satellite imagery flown annually over Luke provides updated base map data for installation assets. Geospatial datasets are maintained in a centralized database. Other uses include a tool used to measure the distance of a jogging path on the base or the distance between teeoff box and the first hole at Falcon Dunes Golf Course. A request to build a new office can be made by pulling up on line the building to be modified, creating the new design and submitting to CE via e-mail. Go to the intranet and link to the CE GeoBase, listed on the left. Instructions on how to use the program are there. For help using the program, call John Li at (623) 856-6535 for assistance. The GeoBase Web site is a joint effort between the 56th CES GIS Office, 56th RMO, and the Air Education and Training Command GeoIntegration Office.