Strategic Operations Map

Product Description

The Strategic Operations Map effectively displays an Incident Management Team’s (IMT) long-term strategy in managing an incident, and the data that informs the strategy. It consists of one or more large-format maps with an accurate, current, and detailed record of incident information across the entire planning area.

Target Audience

Incident Commander, all IMT staff, Agency Representatives, Resource Advisors, all Operations and Line personnel, Aerial resources, Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GEOMAC), National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC).

Guidelines

Standard Incident Command System (ICS) symbology discernible from the back of a meeting area.
Printed in color to enable clear depiction of incident and map features.
Size varies but usually “D” (22” x 34”) size or larger.
Scale varies based on planning area and map size.
May be one map for the entire incident or multiple maps.
Georeferenced.

Standard Elements

All map products produced should include the STANDL-SGD cartographic elements.

Data

Disclaimer: NWCG Data Standards do not currently exist for all data recommended for inclusion on a Strategic Operations Map. Not all datasets listed may be needed for every incident.

Data	Source	Recommendations
Incident perimeter and Contained/Uncontained lines	National Incident Feature Service	Use standard dataset and symbology.
ICS line such as Planned and Completed Lines, Repair Line	National Incident Feature Service	Use standard dataset and symbology.
ICS point features such as Camp, Dip Site, Drop Point, Helispot, Lookout, Mobile Retardant Base, Mobile Weather Unit, Repeater, Restricted Water Source, Safety Hazards, Staging Area, Structure Wrap, Water Source, Values at Risk	National Incident Feature Service	Use standard dataset and symbology.
Division and branch breaks and labels	National Incident Feature Service	Use standard dataset and symbology.
Values at Risk	No single source dataset currently exists. WFDSS Management Requirement Shapes and Other Shapes may be downloaded from WFDSS Classic or acquired direct from jurisdictional agency(s). Values may be represented in other agency, local, state, and national datasets. Point data may be added to National Incident Feature Service / Event Point layer.	Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.
Management Action Points NWCG definition is specific to Prescribed Fire	WFDSS, GISS adds to National Incident Feature Service	Include associated language (Condition, Action, Resources) from WFDSS on map layout.
Strategic Lines Proposed, planned, under construction and/or completed line that outline the overall strategy for achieving an incident’s defined goals. The tactical steps for implementation and/or exact locations of line placement may or may not fully be identified.	No single source dataset currently exists. Planned incorporation into the National Incident Feature Service / Event Line Layer for 2024.	Continue to create an incident specific dataset until a NWCG Data Standard is developed. Symbolize as follows: Primary Strategic Line – the current plan being implemented to meet incident objectives. Planned Secondary Strategic Line – an alternate or contingency line that, based on current conditions, will be implemented or is already being constructed. Proposed Secondary Strategic Line – an alternate or contingency line that has been identified but is not currently being implemented. This may be because it still needs to be scouted or current conditions on the incident do not require the construction of this line.
Evacuation Planning Areas	Local Jurisdictional Agency(s)	Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. If GISS is tasked with creating data on-incident, symbolize based on the local jurisdiction's direction.
Fire History	WFIGS	Use standard dataset. Supplement with existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where there are data gaps. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.
Fuels Treatment History	WFMRDA	Use standard dataset. Supplement with existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where there are data gaps. Symbolize based on cartographic need of the map.
Planning Area See WFDSS glossary for definition	WFDSS	Use WFDSS Classic shapefile output. Symbolize based on WFDSS palette (R: 194, G: 23, B: 199).
Short-Term Fire Behavior (STFB) model including Minimum Travel Time (MTT) lines Near-Term Fire Behavior (NTFB) model Fire Spread Probability (FSPro) model See WFDSS glossary for definitions	WFDSS; generated by analysts.	Use WFDSS Classic shapefile outputs. Symbolize based on WFDSS palettes.
Limited Action Line Area of the fire perimeter that is inactive and/or poses little to no threat of impacts to identified values, therefore limited to no action is being proposed or implemented.	National Incident Feature Service	Use an available text field in the Perimeter Line layer of the National Incident Feature Service to note the geographic extent of where limited action will be taken. Create Brown halo underneath standard Uncontained Line symbology.
Special Interest Management Areas Areas in which there are management or use restrictions in place.	No single source dataset currently exists.	Use existing datasets authoritative to jurisdictional agency(s) where possible. For example, EDW/EDW_SpecialInterestManagementArea_01 (MapServer) (usda.gov).
Administrative boundaries, political boundaries (city (subdivisions)-county, state, national)	Local Jurisdictional Agency(s), PADUS, CENSUS
Ownership–land status	WFMRDA	Use standard dataset and symbology.
Appropriate base map, such as topography or orthoimagery	Varies
Other SITL-requested data	Varies

Examples

These are examples from actual incidents and may include elements that differ from this guide.

2022 Hermits Peak

Page Last Modified / Reviewed:

2023-08-22