Geospatial Decision Support for Public Assistance Missions David Lanter,, Ph.D. Bernie Peterson JSEM & Geospatial Information Services Conference May 23, 2007
Presentation 1. Rapid Geospatial Decision Support System Deployment Methodology 2. Debris Removal Assistance with MapPoint 3. Environmental Assessment with ENVAS II 4. Geospatial Data Sourcing Protocol
Context Hurricane Rita disaster response and recovery FEMA s Public Assistance (PA) Program Geospatial Unit s PA support team Joint Field Office Austin, Texas
Rapid Deployment Methodology 1. Identify users, assess needs 2. Select best fit geospatial tool 3. Research and compile best available datasets 4. Rapidly deploy prototype 5. Show users product, gain feedback 6. Augment datasets, improve product (GoTo 5) 7. Inform users of product s limitations 8. Deploy production system 9. Solve next problem
Debris Removal Assistance Need: Daily status of debris removal Location and amount of remaining debris Responsible agencies Rapid daily updates
Measurement Levels Defined by Stevens (1946), a psychologist at Harvard University 1. Nominal Measures 2. Ordinal Measures 3. Interval Measures 4. Ratio Measures Stevens, S.S. 1946. On the theory of scales of measurement. Science 103:677-680.
Excel Debris Status Data
MapPoint Link Data Wizard Pre-compiled multi-scale data Geocoding wizard Symbolization wizard
MapPoint Data Mapping Wizard
Thematic Map Estimated Debris
FEMA Debris Removal Status (10/8/05) County Estimate (CY) Remaining Contract Jefferson 2,250,000 1,968,000 County Orange 1,000,000 988,776 USACE Newton 294,160 292,213 USACE Jasper 252,037 252,037 County Chambers 200,000 200,000 Force Account Liberty 175,000 175,000 USACE Hardin 258,545 107,545 County Angelina 15,000 15,000 County Tyler Co. 15,000 15,000 County Sabine 8,000 8,000 USACE Nacogdoches 7,000 7,000 USACE San Augustine 4,000 4,000 USACE Walker 1,000 1,000 Force Account San Jacinto 1,000 1,000 Force Account Trinity 600 600 Force Account Cameron Polk Grimes Force Account USACE Force Account Total: 4,481,342 4,035,171
FEMA Debris Removal Status 10/10/05 County Estimate (Cubic Yards) Remaining (Cubic Yards) Contract Angelina 15,000 15,000 County Brazoria 15,093 15,093 Force Account Cameron Force Account Chambers 200,000 200,000 Force Account Cherokee 1,409 1,409 Force Account Fort Bend Unknown Galveston 300,000 300,000 County Gregg 14,133 14,133 Unknown Grimes Force Account Hardin 260,000 75,149 County Harris 66,924 66,924 County Houston 267 267 Unknown Jasper 315,000 252,037 County Jefferson 2,250,000 1,855,000 County Liberty 236,000 236,000 USACE Montgomery 133 133 Unknown Nacogdoches 14,000 14,000 USACE Newton 372,000 364,679 USACE Orange 1,000,000 934,422 USACE Panola 333 333 Unknown Polk 17,500 17,500 USACE Rusk 2,067 2,067 Unknown Sabine 8,000 8,000 USACE San Augustine 10,000 1,273 USACE San Jacinto 1,000 1,000 Force Account Shelby 13,333 13,333 Unknown Smith 4,000 4,000 Unknown Trinity 600 600 Force Account Tyler 25,000 25,000 County Walker 1,000 1,000 Force Account Indian Reserv. 14,933 14,933 Unknown Total: 5,088,762 4,433,285
Production Environment 3 Microsoft Office Products Excel MapPoint PowerPoint
Step 1. Update Excel Table
Step 2. Update MapPoint s Map
Step 3. Update PowerPoint Slide
Researching Texas Landfills for Debris
Prototype Map for Landfill Selection
FEMA Debris Removal Landfills Status
Debris Decision Support These status maps demonstrated their effectiveness as part of the daily briefings provided by the JFO Public Assistance Officer within the Department of Homeland Security and the White House
Environmental Assessment Support Automated spatial analysis for preliminary environmental assessment Practical geospatial data research and compilation protocol
Environmental Assessment ENVAS II Geospatial Application Designed by: Mark Eberlein, Environmental Officer FEMA Region 10, Bothell Washington Developed by: EDAW Inc. as an extension for ESRI s ArcGIS Implemented and extended by: CDM for FEMA s Hurricane Rita Environmental Assessment Team
Public Assistance Projects Managed by a Public Assistance Coordinator Tracked using the Project Worksheet 1. Pre-disaster description of facility and its condition 2. Cause and description of damage 3. Scope of work necessary to repair damage 4. Estimated cost 5. Special Considerations FEMA provides Specialists to review Special Considerations issues stationed at a disaster s Joint Field Office
Special Considerations Issues potentially affecting scope of work and Federal project funding, include: Floodplain management Hazard mitigation measures Regulatory and legal compliance review to assure Environmental protection Cultural preservation
Compliance Review Environmental Laws National Environmental Policy Act National Historic Preservation Act Endangered Species Act Coastal Barrier Resources Act Clean Water Act Coast Zone Management Act Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Clean Air Act Farmland Protection Policy Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Executive Orders E.O. 11988 Floodplains E.O. 11990 Wetlands E.O 12898 Environmental Justice for Low Income and Minority Populations
Environmental Compliance Check List Specifies Geospatial Data Layers to Compile
Environmental Assessment Datasets
Spatial Analysis 1. Geocode proposed project 2. Buffer potential impact area 3. Intersect buffer with environmental and cultural features 4. Report environmental and cultural risks
Project Location or
User Selected Base Maps GIS Street Map USGS Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) Color Ortho Photography
Success Factor: Data Sourcing
Geospatial Data Sourcing Protocol 1. Identify needed data themes 2. Evaluate available data assets 3. If needed themes are missing A. Search Web for Agencies offering geospatial data B. Contact agencies for guidance, find their geospatial data experts, and learn of data availability and fitness for use C. When needed go for a visit (with a portable large disk drive) D. Pragmatically deploy production system E. Continue sourcing data and improving content (GoTo A) 4. Inform users of data limitations
Data Sources and Limitations
Presentation 1. Rapid Geospatial Decision Support System Deployment Methodology 2. Debris Removal Assistance with MapPoint 3. Environmental Assessment with ENVAS II 4. Geospatial Data Sourcing Protocol
Geospatial Decision Support for Public Assistance Missions David Lanter,, Ph.D. Bernie Peterson JSEM & Geospatial Information Services Conference May 23, 2007