CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY
How NZ Police Used FME to Power Their Cyclone Gabrielle Emergency Response
When Cyclone Gabrielle triggered a national state of emergency in 2023, NZ Police turned to FME to capture, process, and visualise high volumes of emergency call data in real time, giving frontline teams the geospatial intelligence they needed to prioritise life-saving responses across a rapidly evolving crisis.
925,000+ emergency calls annually
FME helps manage the capture and processing of NZ Police’s significant emergency call volumes
12 Police Districts covered
Geospatial intelligence delivered consistently across all districts during the crisis response
Nationwide dataset created
Calls for Service dataset extended country-wide, ensuring all emergency and non-emergency calls were accurately captured and analysed
Real-time data aggregation
Continuous data feeds from multiple sources including FENZ, with image attachments to visualise and assess cyclone-related damage
The availability of key datasets, enabled by FME integration provided critical insights, allowing our people on the ground to respond quickly and effectively to what was a rapidly evolving national emergency.”
– Sarah Hodgson, Manager Geospatial Intelligence, NZ Police
The Challenge
Coordinating Emergency Response Data Across a Nation in Crisis
With one of the largest workforces in New Zealand stationed in 12 Police Districts, NZ Police answer more than 925,000 emergency and 743,000 non-emergency calls annually. The NZ Police Geospatial team are responsible for managing a range of web applications and dashboards which incorporate a range of key datasets from various parts of the organisation, including 111 (emergency) and 105 (non-emergency) calls for service from Police’s Emergency Communication Centres.
In early 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle struck the North Island of New Zealand, causing widespread devastation and triggering a national state of emergency. Working alongside emergency response teams, NZ Police established a Major Operations Centre tasked with evacuating people to safety, managing road closures and hazards, and investigating reports of people unaccounted for.
The coordination and handling of emergency and non-emergency calls effectively, and the gathering of geospatial data to support decision-making during the crisis, was of paramount importance.
The Solution
FME-Enabled Data Capture, Automation, and Real-Time Integration
FME provided a range of capabilities that significantly enhanced the emergency response efforts in the capturing, categorising, and processing of high call volumes. The key components of the solution included:
- Creation and automation of a Calls for Service dataset which was then extended country-wide, ensuring that all emergency and non-emergency calls were accurately captured and analysed
- Constant, comprehensive, and timely data aggregation from various sources, which included SAS outputs and data feeds from FENZ (Fire and Emergency New Zealand), delivering real-time insights to priority requests, including associated image attachments to visualise and assess cyclone-related damage
- Integration of communication and resource deployment to provide a comprehensive view of emergency response operations nationwide
The Results
Faster Decisions, Better-Prioritised Responses
The integration of FME within geospatial systems during the response to Cyclone Gabrielle facilitated uninterrupted data updates, providing vital insights for informed decision-making and optimal resource allocation. By streamlining emergency call handling and police station coordination, NZ Police and emergency response personnel efficiently prioritised their efforts to address the most imminent threats to life and property.
Why it Matters
In a national emergency, the difference between a timely and a delayed response can be measured in lives. When call volumes surge and data arrives from multiple agencies simultaneously, the ability to aggregate, process, and spatially visualise that information in real time is not just an operational advantage, it’s critical infrastructure.
By utilising FME to automate data capture and integration across emergency communication systems, public safety agencies can ensure their people on the ground have the intelligence they need, when they need it most, enabling faster, more confident decisions in even the most rapidly evolving situations.
Success Stories
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Building a Stronger Response: FME’s Impact on NZ Police’s Cyclone Gabrielle Operation
Amidst the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, New Zealand Police utilised FME technology to efficiently manage emergency and non-emergency calls. This encompassed creating a nationwide Calls for Service dataset, automating data processing, and real-time data aggregation. The integrated approach facilitated informed decision-making and resource allocation, allowing the police to effectively prioritise their efforts in addressing urgent threats to life and property during the crisis.