The evolution of geographical information systems for fire prevention support

• An examination of the evolution of a GIS for fire prevention.
• A GIS based spatial analysis of fire incidence.
• A GIS based predictive causal factor model of fire risk.
• A GIS based analysis of community profiles.
• A GIS based analysis of dwelling fire types across population segments.

Geographical information systems (GIS) provide visual map based analysis and reporting information implemented in map layers. Geographical information systems evolve by incorporating new and enhanced means of analysing and presenting location based information. In this paper we examine the evolution of a geographical information system for fire prevention support that evolved through transitions of the underlying approach to the analysis of dwelling fire risk over a six year period 2007 to 2013. The novel theoretical contribution of this paper is the examination of the evolution of GIS analysis and modelling approaches, and in the specific context of fire and rescue services, the examination of the evolution of a fire prevention support GIS.