Downloads

Documents | Symbology
INDIGO Symbology Reference

Important Note

This symbols set is meant for European usage and is a work in progress. This is the second version and will evolve. It is not a standard. If you have any question, suggestion or resquest, please contact us.

Legal use

This research is partially supported by the INDIGO project, funded by the European Commission through the Security Research program under FP7.

Any information/material contained herein is a paro of the EU project work, it is not subject to copyright protection, and may be published/disseminated without restriction(s).

Background

Within the scope of the INDIGO project, an initial global survey reveals a plethora of symbols and symbol schemes across countries but extremely few standardized sets. There are exceptions, namely the emergency management symbology used in the United States, developed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) within their Homeland Security Working Group (FGDC HSWG), and the somewhat less governed symbology set for use in Australia and New Zealand, the Australasian All-Hazards Symbology, developed by the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) and the Victoria-based company Spatial Vision. There are also serious initiatives and dialogues for standardisation which are currently underway, for example within the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO).

We propose a European emergency symbology reference for 2D/3D maps. This will fill an important gap by offering a common visual reference that can be used across Europe to facilitate the immediate understanding of incidents, thus improving decision making across organisational boundaries.

The approach

A state of the art has been achieved within the scope of the INDIGO project, details and download link can be found below:

State of the Art Report: Symbols, Symbology and Systems. H. Hermansson (CRISMART), L. Newlove-Eriksson (CRISMART), 2010.

D4.3.2 European Emergency 2D/3D Symbology M. Schaap (CRISISPLAN), F. Bynander (CRISMART), A. Ahmad (DIGINEXT), 2012.

Moreover, a survey has been made where more than 40 worldwide crisis managers, crisis trainers and operationals responded. Analysis of their answers have conducted us to the following principles:

  • Do not use too many symbols;
  • Only four categories are sufficient to classify information:
  • Unique clearly distinguishable frameshape per category;
    • Incident;
    • Risk;
    • Operation;
    • Infrastructure.
  • The needs to distinguish information reliabilty and resource numbers (currently in developpment)

Download links

Frame shape


Frame Shape
Name
Definition
Image PNG
Incident frameshape

This diamond shape is used to identify the item as an incident.

Image PNG
Risk frameshape

This pointing downwards triangle shape is used to identify the item as a risk.

Image PNG
Infrastructure frameshape

This square shape is used to identify an infrastructure. A roof shape has been added in order not to confuse with the incident diamond shape.

Image PNG
Operation frameshape

This circle shape is used to identify operations.

Image PNG
Planned operation frameshape

This circle shape is used to identify operations, and the dot line to express a planned operation.

Form, small symbol set

Incidents / Risks

Symbol

Black & White | Color
Name
Definition
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Aircraft incident

An event involving aircraft resulting in damage, bodily injury, death, or the disruption of transportation service (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Aircraft risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Automobile incident

An event involving a wheeled or tracked vehicle resulting in damage, bodily injury, death, or the disruption of transportation service (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Automobile risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Avalanche incident

Avalanche (Geologic) - A large mass of snow, ice, soil, or rock, or mixtures of these materials, falling, sliding, or flowing very rapidly under the force of gravity. (Source: Dictionary of Geological Terms, 3rd Ed.)

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Avalanche risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Biological incident

Poisonous, infectious and/or biohazardous materials which may cause a serious disease resulting in illness or death (Drawn from Canadian definition).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Biological risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Bomb incident

The presence of bomb or an expressed intention to denote a bomb.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Bomb risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Chemical incident

The unintended release of a chemical substance, which may result in psychological disorientation, serious injury, incapacitation or death.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Chemical risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Contagious illness incident

The presence of a disease or illness which has a considerable risk of being transmitted.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Contagious illness risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Earthquake incident

The passage of seismic waves causing the earth to vibrate.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Earthquake risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Electrecity failure, power outage incident

A temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of electricity/power in a certain area.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Electrecity failure, power outage risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Explosion incident

The uncontrolled or potentially dangerous presence of any substance or object equipped to detonate followed by the risk of a chemical reaction.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Explosion risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Fire incident

The destructive act of something burning (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Fire risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Flood incident

An area of land, which is not normally covered by water, covered by or submerged by a large amount of water.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Flood risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Hurricane incident

The movement of air exceeding normal levels in mass, force or speed.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Hurricane risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Hurt/lost individual incident

The presence of an individual in need of medical and/or rescue services.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Hurt/lost individual risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Maritime incident

An event involving a boat or ship resulting in damage, bodily injury, death, or the disruption of transportation service (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Maritime risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Nuclear incident

The uncontrolled or potentially dangerous presence of any material having a specific activity greater than 70 Bq per gram (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Nuclear risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Riot incident

A public disturbance involving a threat, intention, or execution to commit violent acts.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Riot risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Rock slide incident

A rockslide is a type of landslide caused by rock failure in which part of the plane of failure passes through intact rock and where material collapses en masse and not in individual blocks. The rocks tumble downhill loosening other rocks on its way also smashing everything in its path (Source: Dictionary of Physical Geography).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Rock slide risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Train incident

An event involving train resulting in damage, bodily injury, death, or the disruption of transportation service (US FGDC Homeland Security).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Train risk
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Water disruption incident

A temporary or long-term disruption in the public water supply in a certain area.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Water disruption risk
Infrastructure

Symbol

Black & White | Color
Name
Usage
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Division command

The location at an incident from which the Division Commander operates (AIIMS).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Electricity point

A point where electricity is generated.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Fire brigade

A place where fighting fire services are available.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Medical

A fixed infrastructure where medical services are available.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Military authorities

A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g. military junta, supporting or promoting economic expansion through imperialism, and as a form of internal social control.(Source: Wikipedia)

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Municipality authorities

A Municipal Authority is a form of special-purpose governmental unit. The municipal authority is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes without the direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts. These purposes commonly include the acquisition, financing, construction and operation of projects such as water supply and sewer systems, airports, transit systems, parking garages, flood control systems, parks, and similar entities (Source: Wikipedia).

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Police

A place where police resources are located and/or available.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Shelter

A basic architectural structure or building that provides cover or temporary protection from harmful or dangerous elements.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Water Point

A place where public drinking water is available.

Operations

Symbol

Black & White | Color
Name
Usage
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Automobile

A wheeled motor vehicle used primarily for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned automobile
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Control point

A designated meeting place to be used after an emergency, natural disaster, or evacuation.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned control point
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Division command

The location at an incident from which the Division Commander operates.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned division command
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Evacuation

An emergency exit from a dangerous place.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned evacuation
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Fire brigade

The presence of a public, private or volunteer organization with fire fighting capacity.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned fire brigade
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Helicopter

A type of rotorcraft which can lift, thrust, take off and land vertically, hover, as well as fly forwards, backwards, and laterally.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned helicopter
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Media

An official media information center (CB) where information is obtained and then distributed via television, radio, newspaper, or social media.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned media
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Medical

Available medical services.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned medical
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Military

Available military services.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned Military
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Police

A constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned police
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Road block

A temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned road block
Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Truck

A wheeled motor vehicle designed to transport cargo and which carries its own engine or motor.

Image PNG
SVG
Image PNG
SVG
Planned truck