--- description: Review of DisasterLAN Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs on Software Advice New Zealand. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/software_advice/og_logo-55146305bbe7b450bea05c18e9be9c9a.png title: DisasterLAN | Reviews, Pricing & Demos - SoftwareAdvice NZ --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Incident Management Software](/directory/4577/incident-management/software) > [DisasterLAN](/software/286934/disasterlan) # DisasterLAN Canonical: https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/286934/disasterlan Page: 1 / 2\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/286934/disasterlan?page=2) > Buffalo Computer Graphics’ DisasterLAN (DLAN) is a user-friendly emergency management system that simplifies task, mission, and resource management. It provides tools for shared situational awareness, workflow-based information management, and real-time communication. These tools include customizable dashboards, ESRI-based GIS mapping, ticketing, asset \& finance tracking, Incident Action Plans (IAPs) \& Situation Reports creators, document \& contact management, and after-action reporting. DLAN is extremely intuitive with familiar data entry methods, responsive design, and consistency in look and feel ensuring that users only need a short amount of training to gain proficiency. A major differentiator from competitive solutions is that DLAN can be configured and maintained by staff that have no knowledge of programming languages. Administrators can create dashboards, forms, and reports using simple builders and drag and drop interfaces. This means customers do not need to pay for additional configuration or hire dedicated staff to support it, saving both time and money. BCG works to ensure that DLAN is able to communicate with the tools our clients rely on for their day-to-day and emergency operations. Unlike competing solutions, interoperability is built throughout DLAN. This includes GIS mapping format support, communication protocols support, import/export capabilities, data format support, browser support, and mobile device support. DLAN follows NIEM and NIST guidelines with common protocols and standards for meaningful information exchange available without requiring external servers or third-party plug-ins. With support for almost all devices, DLAN ensures continuity of operations regardless of location. DLAN is natively accessible (i.e. no app required) from multiple devices with an Internet or cellular connection, including Apple iOS, Windows, and Android. DLAN also includes a Mobile Responder App with offline functionality for disaster area use. BCG released DLAN in 2002 and provides all implementation services and support for the product. BCG is not just a software vendor, it is an engineering firm with decades of experience. We will not just install our software in a vacuum, but will ensure that it is fully integrated into your systems and workflow to facilitate improved operations. Our in-house engineering team continuously updates and enhances DLAN to meet the evolving needs of our customers. DLAN is used internationally by small and large public sector and private sector organizations. Industries served include emergency management, healthcare, transportation, utilities, education, and corporate. > > Verdict: Rated **4.7/5** by 10 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.7/5** | 10 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 5.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.8/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.6/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 90% | (9/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Buffalo Computer Graphics - **Location**: Blasdell, US - **Founded**: 1982 ## Commercial Context - **Pricing model**: Other (Free Trial) - **Target Audience**: 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001–10,000, 10,000+ - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Mac (Desktop), Windows (Desktop), Windows (On-Premise), Chromebook (Desktop), Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: Canada, United States ## Features - API - Activity Dashboard - Alerts/Notifications - Audit Management - Audit Trail - Communications Management - Customisable Reports - Customisable Templates - Data Visualisation - Disaster Recovery - Document Management - Email Alerts - Event Logs - Forms Management - IT Incident Management - Incident Reporting - Issue Management - Mobile Alerts - Monitoring - Multi-Channel Communication ## Integrations (3 total) - ArcGIS - Microsoft Outlook - Twitter/X ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) ## Category - [Incident Management Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4577/incident-management/software) ## Alternatives 1. 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[Datadog](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/101405/datadog) — 4.6/5 (360 reviews) ## Reviews ### "Great software\!" — 4.0/5 > **Shawn** | *20 March 2019* | Public Safety | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: Easy to use platform with great training and support. > > **Cons**: Software does not always operate the same on mobile devices. > > Information sharing among staff has improved using DLAN\! ----- ### "A solid platform for planning, preparing & responding to complex, distributed emergencies/incidents." — 5.0/5 > **Verified Reviewer** | *25 January 2019* | Public Safety | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: DLAN offers a lot of functionality in a well-integrated package. Information is the lifeblood of effective assessment, preparation, and response for emergencies and disruptions. DLAN lets your team effectively take in, navigate, and work through information flows that would otherwise end up being chaotic. Text-based, visual, geographic, and data-based information are all brought together in various ways to enable decision-makers, analysts, and direct responders to work more effectively as a coordinated whole. Using DLAN our people are able to communicate, coordinate and collaborate across a large geographic footprint during planning, preparation, response and recovery. DLAN's integrations and workflows take things well beyond ad-hoc cobbling together of email and other common general-use tools. > > **Cons**: UI and UX are weak points though I suspect this is also the case with other comparable platforms. For those used to using the range of SaaS providers currently out there for various purposes, you'll have experience with different UI/UX design approaches. If you've used a range of purchased apps on your phones and tablets, you'll also have experienced a different slew of UI/UX design approaches. Some are better than others, some more intuitive than others. When I train others on the platform, I often tell them "Engineers developed this thing, not designers. The functionality is there, but the names, locations, and clickflow are often not intuitive." Some modules that allow for collaborative content creation \& modification are sequentially-collaborative rather than simultaneously-collaborative like Google Docs or other platforms. When describing to people that a particular module is "collaborative", these days users immediately think of simutaneous collaboration. > > If you are operating an EOC or leading/supporting a distributed/multi-site response, DLAN is a solid platform to use. The model based around tickets for resolving individual elements or issue per incident is very effective for responses that do not primarily revolve around the deployment teams and assets to particular locations. Due to the unintuitive nature of the UI/UX and the need for many people to wrap their minds around how tickets are different from emails, your teams will need significant initial training \& practice to get accustomed to DLAN. Furthermore, your teams must remain active on DLAN in order to remain familiar and effective with DLAN. The BCG representatives we worked with were very attentive and helpful. Our configuration team had a good experience with the company. Lastly, like many systems with a large operational footprint, in a variety of ways you will have to change your processes to fit the tool. As a COTS solution, there are definite limits on how far the system can be tailored to match your processes. These accomodations to the tool affect the dynamics and flow within your EOC and response structure. Some will be neutral, some beneficial, and others subtly detrimental. You need to have experience and insight into your current flows, dynamics and strengths in order to assess the effect of those accomodations. ----- ### "DLAN Use" — 3.0/5 > **Magda** | *5 November 2020* | Utilities | Recommendation rating: 7.0/10 > > **Pros**: Considers a wide-range of incident response communication activities and streamlines these into one space. > > **Cons**: Requires a fair bit of ramp up to get users familiar with the software (not exceptionally intuitive). Requires a fair bit of customisation before it can be deployed. ----- ### "DisasterLAN adapts to our needs" — 5.0/5 > **Ken** | *28 August 2019* | Public Safety | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: Configurable-DisasterLAN is able to flex and bend to our EOC structure Big Tent-We can bring all of our emergency management partners together for collaborative management, whether or not they able to access city networks and other firewall barriers Customer Service-Buffalo Computer Graphics treat our problems like their own; they work with us to resolve issues; they are quick to respond, and provide effective solutions Continuous Improvement-DisasterLAN is continually improving; they offer frequent updates and roll out new features > > **Cons**: For DisasterLAN for function the best, it is necessary to send admin time on the front end to configure and optimize. This takes trial-and-error to set-up and test. Because it is highly configurable, it meets our needs. This flexibility does require attention to set-up before the emergency incident occurs. > > Recently, we had an EOC activation for a flooding incident. DLAN was able to help us visualize multiple scenarios based on predicted flooding. The DLAN GIS tool was quick to load different flood maps. This aided decision makers by quickly understanding what could happen if flood waters reached peak levels. Although we have other robust GIS software, DLAN was quick, accurate, and met our needs to quickly assess threats to affected homes. ----- ### "DLAN Review" — 5.0/5 > **Dan** | *25 January 2019* | Oil & Energy | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: As an Emergency Preparedness Program Manager for Bruce Power, I worked effectively with BCG to shape specific aspects of DLAN to meet our needs for data input into the software prior to implementing on site. It was beneficial to be able to custom develop forms and make preparation for automated input into the system to meet our needs. BCG was very accommodating and a pleasure to work with in this regard. Flexibility in creating custom dashboards and ease in retreiving automated trends is very useful to meet the needs of consolidating complex data sets to support a timely situational awareness and effective decision-making process. The cloud-based approach provides an excellent avenue for ease in secure data sharing with multiple agencies. > > **Cons**: It is difficult to pinpoint anything negative about DLAN in comparison to other products on the market. > > DLAN is an excellent tool to enhance situational awareness, timely decision making and data sharing with multiple agencies. It was a pleasure working with BCG and FutureShield to support the development of a customized approach. They provide excellent support that ensures effective customization, implementation and ongoing support. Well done\! ----- Page: 1 / 2\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/286934/disasterlan?page=2) ## Links - [View on SoftwareAdvice](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/286934/disasterlan) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | en | | | en-AU | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | ----- ## Structured Data