Information Management
The Information Management Unit is responsible for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The unit is responsible for spatial analysis, cartography, the development of GIS applications and tools, information and data management, database administration, data maintenance, Groove Virtual Office administration, web development, as well as non-GIS application design, development, and deployment. During Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, we provide support through Emergency Support Function (ESF) 5: Information and Planning.
Our focus is to provide tools for decision makers and responders that will facilitate decisions which positively impact the outcome of an event. Additionally, during non-activation status one of the primary goals of the unit is to foster, enable, assist, respect and leverage technologies, information and datasets used by State Agencies to perform their daily activities. By striving to achieve this goal the State will be well positioned to effectively leverage all available data and technological assets in times of crisis.
Deepwater Horizon Response
GIS Resources for Deepwater Horizon Response
Ongoing Projects
Coastal LiDAR project and Regional Evacuation Studies
Strategic Planning for Statewide GIS Coordination
Florida Implements US National Grid
Florida HAZUS User Group - FLHUG and FLHUG Google Group
GATOR Incident Mapper KML for Mapping and Visualization
Virtual USA and the efforts of the State Emergency Response Team
Due to recent press releases and forums regarding DHS's Virtual USA information sharing initative, a lot of questions have arisen regarding the efforts of the State Emergency Response Team with this initative.
For more information on the Virtual USA initiative, you may see the following --
- DHS Secretary Napolitano Unveils "Virtual USA" Information Sharing Initiative
- Virtual USA - Geospatial Interoperability for Emergency Response
Keep the following in mind about what Virtual USA isn’t –
- Virtual USA is not an application nor a website. A user doesn't go to the Virtual USA website, or open a map using a Virtual USA application.
So then, what is Virtual USA --
- Virtual USA is an information sharing initiative – an initiative whereby states and federal partners agree to share information in a geospatial context via the web.
- This sharing is accomplished via KML network links, REST services, and/or GeoRSS feeds. The exact format of the information being shared is dictated by the visualization and web services tools available by a partner.
- In Florida, the State Emergency Response Team participates in the Virtual USA initiative by providing both REST services (http://map.floridadisaster.org/ArcGIS/rest/services) and KML network links (http://map.floridadisaster.org/ArcGIS/kml) for use by other states and federal partners in their visualization tools.
- Also in Florida, we consume our own services and other partners information through both our Geospatial Analysis Tool for Operations and Response (or GATOR) and KML network links. We don’t always have information from the Virtual USA initiative available via GATOR – we would only add a tab for Virtual USA and include partners data when needed due to a specific event or incident.
Florida Fire/EMS GIS Users Group
The GIS team of the Florida Division of Emergency Management were pleased to participate in the inaugural Florida Fire/EMS GIS Users Group meeting presented by the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS and hosted by Orange County GIS at the Orange County EOC. Our presentation GIS Activities of the State Emergency Response Team is now available online.
2009 GIS Data Discovery Workshop
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2009 GIS Data Discovery Workshop. The workshop was held at the State Emergency Operation Center from 10 AM – 5 PM on July 9, 2009. The agenda for the workshop is available, as are the presentations and links given during the workshop.
HAZUS Comprehensive Data Management System Web Portal
Florida is the second state in the nation to have embarked upon a project to create a web portal for updating HAZUS data. It is called the HAZUS Comprehensive Data Management System – or CDMS
For more information on the web portal, please join the Florida HAZUS User Group Google Group, see the FEMA CDMS web page, visit the portal at http://flhazusdata.com (user name and password required), or contact Richard Butgereit at 850-413-9907.
Other Florida GIS Projects
Florida URISA - The Florida Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association hosts a website with news feeds, events and workshops, calendar, and web links for Florida GIS professionals. Join the non-profit association for free, explore their website, and share information for your region.
Environmental Resource Analysis Tools - ERAtools is pair of applications, an ArcMap report-writing extension and a desktop application which is used to create the analysis definition files used by the ArcMap extension. ERAtools was originally an ArcView 3 application started by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). ERAtools for ArcGIS was cooperatively developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and DEP. ERAtools is currently being implemented by FWC, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and DEP, among other agencies.
County Planning Maps - Florida DOT maintains planning maps by county.
Geospatial Dimensions of Emergency Response - The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) has created a unique forum to address the application of mapping technologies such as GIS, GPS, and remote sensing to emergency and disaster response. In response to a perceived need, GITA held the first ever Geospatial Dimensions of Emergency Response Symposium in Seattle, Washington in March 2008, and repeated symposium in 2009 at their annual conference in Tampa, Florida. GITA also continues to host Geospatially Enabling Community Collaboration (GECCo) workshops in the Tampa Bay area. The focus of GECCo is to help bring organizations involved in emergency/disaster response together to share geospatial information as it relates to all elements of planning, mitigation, response, and recovery.
Florida GeoSpatial Metadata Index - There is a significant amount of GIS data being gathered in Florida, by various organizations, and it is retained in a host of important service centers. The purpose of this site is help people find what they need and how to access it by serving as a locator and point system to geospatial data in Florida. This regional pilot project is ready to be expanded with your particpation!
Florida Geographic Data Library - The Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) is a mechanism for distributing spatial data throughout the state of Florida. The FGDL is warehoused and maintained at the University of Florida's GeoPlan Center, a GIS Research & Teaching Facility.
Florida Aerial Photography Archive Collection - Florida Aerial Photography Archive Collection (APAC) is Florida's largest collection of aerial photography. This collection consist of over 450,000 digital images that date back to 1951 plus over 700,000 aerial photos that can date back to the 1940's. This collection is a primary source of aerial photography and digital imagery for the Florida Department of Transportation, State Agencies and the general public.
GIS Tools and Links
Geospatial Metadata Validation Service - Think your metadata is good? Just how compliant is your FGDC-Compliant metadata. Courtesy of the USGS Geoscience Data Catalog, put your metatdata to the test at their Geospatial Metadata Validation Service.
NSGIC's RAMONA GIS Inventory- RAMONA is produced by the National States' Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track the status of GIS in state and local government to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Ramona is designed to work in concert with Geospatial One-Stop. Please visit RAMONA and enter your data for Florida.
FEMA's Express Document Delivery for Disasters - Express Document Delivery for Disasters is an online facility provided by the FEMA Map Service Center to be used for downloading flood maps and related products for federally declared disaster counties. For access to the site during an emergency, please contact Richard Butgereit at 850-413-9907.
Contact
Richard Butgereit, GIS Administrator
richard.butgereit@em.myflorida.com
850-413-9907
Erika Smith, GIS Analyst
erika.smith@em.myflorida.com
850-413-9906
Melissa Hall, GIS Technician
melissa.hall@em.myflorida.com
850-413-9905
Steve Levine, GIS Technician
steve.levine@em.myflorida.com
850-410-2953
Lida Maxwell, Webmaster
lida.maxwell@em.myflorida.com
850-413-9915
Richie Dible, Systems Project Analyst
richie.dible@em.myflorida.com
850-413-9907
Updated:
August 17, 2010 10:40
