Location, location, location. Hexagon, CRG provide detailed mapping of critical places

It’s all about the “where.”

Emergency dispatchers sending first responders to an event have lots of information to gather and communicate quickly, but none is more important than location.

In many cases, they can get responders to the building where an incident is unfolding, but it’s unclear what the layout is inside.

Thanks to a partnership between Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division and Critical Response Group (CRG), responders now know the “where” inside the building, from the entrances and exits to the layout of every hallway, down to the storage closets.

Hexagon’s CAD system, HxGN OnCall Dispatch, as well as its cloud-based collaboration portal, HxGN Connect, can be integrated with CRG’s Collaborative Response Graphics – interactive maps that give responders a detailed blueprint of the building or event site they’re about to enter.

CRG mapping in HxGN OnCall Dispatch

Instead of entering blindly, police or firefighters can zoom in to a “micro map” showing a clearly labeled floor plan with critical features like highlighted hallways, stairwells, doors and exits. For all mapping projects in the education, government and commercial space, CRG embeds critical data in every map, including  a gridded overlay, high-resolution imagery, room labels, hallway names, external door and stairwell numbers, master key and lockboxes, and locations for all key utility and safety assets such as AEDs and shutoffs.

These labels are verified via a thorough on-site walk-through of every building conducted by data specialists from the CRG team – a requirement to ensure accuracy.

Responders also have access to the best available aerial imagery, provided by CRG drones or industry-leading aerial imagery collection platforms.

In an active shooter situation at a school, for instance, these precise location details can save crucial time and precious lives. Where is the shooter, where are the victims, where should law enforcement make entry and where are the nearest exits so people can be evacuated quickly?

Alternatively, imagine a first responder being sent to a massive, multiterminal airport to help a patient in cardiac arrest. Instead of having to find their way once on-site, CRG’s detailed advanced mapping – accessible through Hexagon’s Mobile Responder app – can direct them right to the patient. 

To date, CRG has mapped more than 41,000 critical locations, including schools, colleges, hospitals, stadiums, international airports, corporate campuses and places of worship. The solution has even been used for security at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Burning Man music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

CRG mapping in HxGN OnCall Dispatch | Mobile Unit

Whether it’s a school, office, airport or desert music festival, knowing the “where” down to the foot dramatically improves the chances of saving lives and property. These details can reduce time or change the operational plan entirely, significantly impacting outcomes for patients, responders, property and communities.

Once on-site, knowing what to do next is incredibly important. Hexagon’s multisource mapping and flexible CAD solutions give dispatchers easy access to standard operating procedures for most incident types.

In an intense, complex and uncommon event such as an active shooter or raging fire, having SOPs at their fingertips ensures dispatchers follow along with the exact steps required in those situations.

CRG mapping in HxGN Connect

CRG’s mapping solution combined with HxGN Connect brings another level of situational awareness to multiagency collaboration. Connect can provide all agencies logged into the Connect portal with real-time access to not only CRG and Hexagon mapping, but also unit deployments, CCTV and traffic cameras, alarms and more. These plans and CRG maps are available to members of the response, from police and SWAT teams to EMTs, emergency management professionals and site staff, creating a true common operating picture.

What’s more, the ability to track responders inside the building, combined with precise details about their location, can help keep those responders safe.

Thanks to Hexagon’s portfolio of public safety solutions and collaboration with partners like CRG, first responders can have the information, tools and insight they need to stay safe and succeed in the worst situations.