By Brett Rosenberg and Tom Easter
June 27, 2005

In the afternoon of June 13, during the 73rd Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors in Chicago, mayors and others went on traveling workshops hosted by Chicago to demonstrate some of the innovative programs of the city.

Host Mayor Richard M. Daley rode along with mayors on a guided tour of several housing developments that the city invested in. The tour highlighted many areas of redevelopment and revitalization of some of the more downtrodden areas of the city. Many of developments include mixed income residences as well as a large number of improved low income housing.

The mayors also visited the United Center and heard presentations by Howard Pizer, Executive Vice President of the United Center and Earnest Gates of Near West Development Corp. They explained the trials of developing the United Center site and the revitalization of surrounding areas by explaining the give and take to make the project work while improving the surrounding neighborhoods.

Mayors and Business Council members toured the state-of-the-art Office of Emergency Management and Communications, where Chicago houses its 911 Operations and its Office of Emergency Management. The pairing provides an advantage to Chicago's emergency management team by providing easy and immediate access to information regarding the availability and dispatch of police, fire and EMS resources citywide.

James Argiropoulos, the Director of Information Services, provided a guided tour of the newly created operations center, which monitors 911 dispatch operations, as well as video surveillance images, remote sensors, traffic, weather, local, national and international news, utility disruptions, special events, and the Homeland Security Information Network. Housed in an earthquake-proof specially built $217 million facility, the 24/7 operations center is designed to facilitate real-time, citywide situational awareness and coordination in support of emergency management and on emergency city operations.

Some of the technological highlights:

• The Homeland Security Operations Center is arranged "like the bridge of a battleship." Operators can monitor federal resources, control traffic flows, call tow trucks, and keep up with breaking news. Personnel also monitor gunshot detectors and biological/chemical sensors throughout the city.
• Real-time modeling software and global positioning systems allow immediate evacuation planning in the event of emergencies. Software allows personnel to project response needs based on emergency scenarios and demographics.
• Electronic blueprints and occupancy information for every building over 540 feet tall allows for instantaneous emergency evacuation response.
• Access to up to the second FAA flight information, including flight maps, plans and manifests.
• A high-tech table-top map allows additional monitoring and response ability. It is the first such piece of technology in use outside of the Pentagon.
• Office of Emergency Management vehicles are available at a moment's notice for instantaneous deployment to set up command posts at emergency events.