Port awarded homeland security grant

The Port of Redwood City is receiving a $542,490 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to digitally map and collect data about its facilities and infrastructure for a "visual port” used for safety and emergency response, according to port officials.

The planned Geographical Information Systems and Tactical Survey Information System has two parts requiring separate contractors. The Homeland Security grant, made through the San Francisco Bay Marine Exchange, will pay for both the $84,000 contract with Redwood City and the $445,405 agreement with Tactical Survey Group, Inc., according to port officials.

GIS is a digital mapping system that identifies utilities, roads, train tracks and land use designations in a series of visual layers. The tactical survey gives port personnel and first responders advanced visuals and information by integrating the port’s applications including security, executive management and operations management.

Redwood City finished a GIS project for internal use along with a public version. The city’s version lacks much detail about the port and the authorities want to build on that platform rather than creating a new, stand-alone program limited only to the port area, according to port officials.