GIS and the Clinton Library

June 1, 2005 By: Learon Dalby

When the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center brought a cadre of high-profile dignitaries and guests to Little Rock, geospatial tools rose to the challenge of enhancing their safety and security.

Geospatial data supported the security efforts for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library on November 18, 2004, in Little Rock, Arkansas, following a long history of such practices, especially since 9/11. Spectators will remember the torrential rains, but few will ever know about the extensive preparations leading up to the event.

The Clinton family hosted a long list of high-profile attendees, including President George W. Bush, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, rock star Bono, plus other political leaders and Hollywood celebrities. Event planners needed top-notch security, and geospatial data formed the basis for keeping all guests safe.

Those who attended the November ceremony may long remember the gloomy weather, but few were aware of the extensive preparation that took place.

Events such as the Clinton Library opening present a host of challenges related to the safety of dignitaries and those attending the event. For example, detailed plans must be made for separating vehicle and pedestrian traffic, careful attention must be paid to the rights of protestors, and contingency plans must be made for assisting those with health problems. Each of these instances produces unique challenges. The use of GIS allowed event planners to see the big picture prior to the event.

Determining the Need

The Arkansas Geographic Information Office (AGIO) began compiling geospatial data to support the event in September 2004 and continued to revise datasets until the day before the festivities. Ironically, it was President Clinton who signed Executive Order 12906, establishing the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and revising Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16 in 1994. This legislation enabled the sharing of geospatial information among federal agencies, a key component in obtaining much of the data required for securing the gathering.

Both pre-planning activities and organization of event response required data preparation. The library opening marked the first time the AGIO participated in this type of activity. We knew the ins and outs of GIS, but we did not know what applications and maps decision makers would need.

AGIO staff listed a set of applications and maps that we thought would be useful, then reviewed the list with key decision makers. We learned a quick lesson: Keep it simple! Hazard plume models, road network analysis, 3D models, and line-of-sight analysis were all really cool, but what event managers really needed were maps.

Decision makers at all levels of government asked the same question: Where? Intuitively we assumed that if a person lives in a relatively small city, such as Little Rock, they would know where everything is located. Although the assumption is correct on a certain level, few people had considered location in the context of security, which created challenges.

To meet those challenges, the AGIO generated more than 25 GIS projects, 50 posters, and 75 map books, in addition to providing on-site support during the event in the local and state operation centers. A well thought-out action plan played a key role in our accomplishments.

Enlisting Resources

Drawing on knowledge and relationships acquired through the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), the AGIO contacted the state of New York's GIS staff, which had conducted similar activities. Speaking with people who already had compiled and supplied geospatial products for this type of event, we learned about issues, which included

1. Acquiring the best available data
2. Maintaining consistent symbology on all of the maps
3. Determining what geospatial data were distributable
4. Addressing the distribution of geospatial products prior to the event and during the event
5. Ensuring fully redundant systems and capabilities
6. Organizing geospatial data.

Acquiring the Best Available Data. The AGIO worked with data providers in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The Pulaski Area GIS Office provided more than 50 geospatial datasets that it maintains. The Little Rock and North Little Rock Public Works Department provided a number of geospatial datasets and assisted in verifying the accuracy of several datasets. The Little Rock Police and Fire Department provided security information specific to the opening event to be included on the maps.