JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
While many people utilize Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, every day, few are aware that military bases also have GIS with countless applications available for Department of Defense personnel.
“GeoBase can basically act as the military equivalent of the map apps a lot of people have on their phones that utilize a GIS,” said Vance Hoyt, 502nd Civil Engineering Squadron geospatial information systems specialist. “If you plug a building number or military office into your phone, it doesn’t know where it’s located. This system gives you that capability to map to a location on a base. It’s especially useful for newcomers; all the information about where everything is located on base is right there in this system.”
GeoBase provides an all-inclusive map with much more detailed information than just building locations and navigation, added Michael Arzate, 502nd Installation Support Group execution support GeoBase section chief.
GeoBase provides detailed information about facilities such as, open work orders, who the facility manager is, floor plans and where individual units are located.
“The applications are endless,” Arzate said. “It’s not just a CE function, personnel can utilize it for training missions, emergency management, entry control points and airfield ops. You can even make personalized maps by drawing on the system.”
The GeoBase map viewer including utility systems maps, property information maps and more is available to all common access card users.
“To request a special map with personalized information all you have to do is go to the map viewer and submit a request and CE will work on it,” Arzate said. “For example if you have an event coming up and you need to map emergency routes or parking locations, all you have to do is go on there and submit a request for it.”
While the system already contains a great deal of information, it is a living document, Hoyt added.
“We’re constantly seeing information to add,” Hoyt said. “There’s a million things on Randolph alone that can be added and they’re constantly changing. We just need people to tell us what kinds of information and maps they need so we can prioritize and utilize the system to its full potential.”
The GIS can be accessed by common access card users at: https://jbsa.eis.aetc.af.mil/502isg/502cen/CENM/CENMT.
For more information, contact the JBSA GeoBase section at 210-652-1231 or 210-652-4160.