Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Last Saturday I sat in on an Emergency Operations Center drill and watched local ham radio operators use APRS to build a live situational awareness map for the EOC director, and it completely changed how I think about what APRS is actually good for in an emergency.
Instead of relying on voice traffic to coordinate between participating stations, the operators running this drill used APRS messaging exclusively. Any voice traffic that came in over the radio was transcribed and entered into APRS as a message, and communication between the various stations in the drill happened entirely through APRS messages rather than over the air voice comms. That alone was a shift from how a lot of EmComm nets typically operate.
The bigger story was the map. The hams used APRS objects to mark critical infrastructure in real time, including shelter locations and hospitals, all displayed on an interactive touchscreen monitor in the EOC. The EOC assistant director could tap directly on any object on the map and pull up additional details stored in the APRS comment field, giving him instant access to information without needing to ask anyone or wait on a radio check.
Talking with the director after the drill, the map was clearly the most valuable piece of the entire exercise. It gave him an immediate, accurate picture of where resources and hazards were located across the county, and it gave him a tool he could use to bring other officials, including the mayor, up to speed on the current situation in seconds rather than minutes. In an EOC environment where every minute matters, that kind of instant visual briefing tool is a serious force multiplier.
This video breaks down what I observed, how the APRS objects and messaging were structured, why the touchscreen interface mattered as much as the data itself, and what this means for ARES and EmComm groups looking to build out their own EOC support capabilities.
If you're involved in ARES, EmComm, or served agency communications and haven't explored using APRS for EOC situational awareness mapping, this drill is a strong example of why it deserves a serious look.
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Last Saturday I sat in on an Emergency Operations Center drill and watched local ham radio operators use APRS to build a live situational awareness map for the EOC director, and it completely changed how I think about what APRS is actually good for in an emergency.
Instead of relying on voice traffic to coordinate between participating stations, the operators running this drill used APRS messaging exclusively. Any voice traffic that came in over the radio was transcribed and entered into APRS as a message, and communication between the various stations in the drill happened entirely through APRS messages rather than over the air voice comms. That alone was a shift from how a lot of EmComm nets typically operate.
The bigger story was the map. The hams used APRS objects to mark critical infrastructure in real time, including shelter locations and hospitals, all displayed on an interactive touchscreen monitor in the EOC. The EOC assistant director could tap directly on any object on the map and pull up additional details stored in the APRS comment field, giving him instant access to information without needing to ask anyone or wait on a radio check.
Talking with the director after the drill, the map was clearly the most valuable piece of the entire exercise. It gave him an immediate, accurate picture of where resources and hazards were located across the county, and it gave him a tool he could use to bring other officials, including the mayor, up to speed on the current situation in seconds rather than minutes. In an EOC environment where every minute matters, that kind of instant visual briefing tool is a serious force multiplier.
This video breaks down what I observed, how the APRS objects and messaging were structured, why the touchscreen interface mattered as much as the data itself, and what this means for ARES and EmComm groups looking to build out their own EOC support capabilities.
If you're involved in ARES, EmComm, or served agency communications and haven't explored using APRS for EOC situational awareness mapping, this drill is a strong example of why it deserves a serious look.
🔹My Favorite Gear - amazon.com/shop/km4ack
🔹Weekly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/40da1fe472e3/km4acknewsletter
🔹Follow Me
Twitter @km4ack
🔹Cool Ham Gear - km4ack.com
🔹Support the channel through Patreon - patreon.com/km4ack
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
