Command: Overview Section

Command: Overview Section

Purpose Statement

  1. The overview section provides a comprehensive dashboard view of critical incident information, consolidating map visualization, pre-plan data, assignment tracking, and resource request management into a single interface. This centralized view enables incident commanders to maintain situational awareness while accessing key operational tools without navigating between multiple command board sections.

Background Information

  1. The overview section serves as the command module's primary situational awareness interface, integrating four essential operational components:
    1. interactive mapping
    2. pre-plan information
    3. assignment management
    4. resource request tracking.
  2. This consolidated view maintains consistency with dedicated section features while providing streamlined access to critical incident management tools. The overview supports both template-driven operations and dynamic incident management, ensuring commanders have immediate access to essential information and controls throughout the incident lifecycle.

Warning
It is important to note that annotations and pre-plan unit placement as well as most of the other features of the command board are not supported in ArcGIS maps and are only supported in the Google map layer. In Google map layers, the satellite view and the map view are also available.

Required Permissions

Users must have the appropriate level of the Incident Commands permission configured in their role:

  • Read: View command boards in read-only mode
  • Update: Modify command board settings and information
  • Create: Initiate new command boards and add custom items
  • Delete: Remove command board elements and complete incidents

Additional permissions may be required for specific functions like messaging and roster access based on integrated modules.

Video 


Step by Step Guide

1.  The Overview Section is divided into 4 areas
  1. Map Area
  2. Pre-Plan Area
  3. Assignments
  4. Requests






2. Command Pre-Plan Units can be added to the map just as in the Map Section by selecting a Pre-Plan Unit and then selecting its position on the Map. Pre-Plan Units can also be edited, and deleted just like in the Map Section.






3. Assignments are displayed and can be moved on the map by dragging them to the desired location.






4. Assignments can also be expanded or contracted to display and hide Lead Units assigned to the Assignment by selectin the down or up caret on each Assignment. If the Assignment does not have a caret, then there are no Units assigned to the assignment or no Lead Units have been designated.






5. Annotations added to the map in the Map Section are displayed and able to be viewed but cannot be edited nor can additional annotations be added.


 



6.   Pre-Plan area will display the any Pre-Plan information including:
A.  Building Story.
B.  Alert & Pre-Plan Tiles.
C.  Alert or Pre-Plan Tile Information.






7.  Assignments Area will display the assignments currently active on the Command Board. It also allows the user to:
  1. Visualize ach Assignments respective timer as well as reset the timer if desired
  2. Add additional Assignments to the Command Board.






8.  Each assignment has a menu that allows the User to perform the following functions on the assignment:
  1. Edit
  2. Delete
  3. Complete
  4. Duplicate
  5. Add Notes





9.  The Resource Requests area will display all active Requests. By selecting the plus sign icon the user can add a new Request from the list of Resource Requests configured in Command Setup.





10. Within the same pop-up, the user can also change or edit the status of any Resource Request as well as reset the timer.


 



10.  Each Request has a menu that allows the User to perform the following functions on the Request :
  1. Edit--Which allows the user to change or edit the status and the corresponding date/times as well as reset the timer. 
  2. Delete--Removes the Resource Request from the list



Best Practices

Do:

  • Use overview section for quick situational awareness checks
  • Leverage map integration to visualize assignment locations
  • Monitor assignment timers regularly and reset when appropriate
  • Track resource request status progression throughout incident
  • Utilize pre-plan information for tactical decision making

Don't:

  • Rely on ArcGIS maps for full functionality (use Google maps)
  • Create assignments in overview if unit assignment is immediately needed
  • Delete assignments without considering map and board impacts
  • Ignore resource request status updates and timing

Tips:

  • Use overview as primary dashboard during incident management
  • Switch to dedicated sections for detailed operations
  • Coordinate assignment creation between overview and board sections
  • Leverage pre-plan data early in incident for tactical advantage
  • Monitor resource requests proactively to ensure timely responses

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why can't I edit annotations in the overview map section? A: Annotations created in the map section display in overview but are read-only. Edit annotations in the dedicated map section.

Q: I created an assignment in overview but can't assign units to it. Why? A: Unit assignment to assignments can only be performed in the board section, not in the overview section.

Q: What happens when I delete an assignment from the overview section? A: The assignment is removed from both the map display and the command board entirely.

Q: Why don't I see all map features when using ArcGIS? A: Many command board features including annotations and pre-plan unit placement are only supported in Google maps.

Q: Can I see the history of resource request status changes? A: Yes, use the down caret next to resource requests to view timestamped status change history.

Q: How do I know which assignments show lead units on the map? A: Only units designated as "lead" in their assignments will appear under assignment names on the map display.

Q: Can I add custom resource requests in the overview section? A: No, resource requests can only be selected from pre-configured options created in command setup.

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