Presentation(s)

1. Overview of Northrop Grumann’s Airborne Data Acquisition Capabilities in Support of Geospatial Intelligence and Traiditional GIS, Surveying and Mapping

   This presentation’s objective is to display the impressive capabilities of today’s remote sensing technology in real-world applications. The examples and data used to create the contents are rarely found in readily available, free downloadable data to the public. The examples displayed are mostly from commercial applications and projects including, but not limited to the following: Hurricane Katrina, Memphis, Nashville, U.S.-Mexico Border, and 2007 Arkansas flood. Secondary to the examples featured is an explanation of the processes and steps used in acquisition and production including an inside-look of an aircraft modified for remote sensing techniques and information on an array of sensors. The intention of the presentation is to provide a wide-ranging review of remote sensing projects in modern industry from start to finish.

   Presenters

   Matthew Taylor

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2. Rapid Damage Assessment and Recovery When Seconds Count [download]

   With the latest rounds of severe weather and tornadoes in the southeast, GIS proved its metal when it came to assessing the damage and assisting in the recovery efforts of those hit with the calamity. Too often, each agency and department has its own agenda and data needs when disaster strikes. Too often the government support timeline can be rigid and somewhat confusing for response reporting and assistance management for disaster aid. Too often, redundancy, overlap, inconsistent data dissemination and capture, along with the confusion in chain of command result in missed opportunities for restoration and recovery. Too often is too often. 3-GIS has leveraged the openness of ArcGIS Server to create a broad reaching solution that collects, presents, reports and shares data across agencies starting with the utilities (including visiting recovery partner utilities) and ultimately with your local municipalities, EMAs, assistance programs, and even FEMA. This is all accomplished while keeping your data secure and showing only what each group needs to see to accomplish their objective. The results are faster turn-arounds in proper recovery as-builts and faster routes to disaster assistance funding. Customers will ultimately have a greater appreciation of their local service provider and government agencies. 3- GIS offers the best-of-breed solution, Command Center, featuring Esri’s ArcGIS Server, ESi’s WebEOC, and 3-GIS’ Express Solution.
    

   Presenters

   Dustin Sutton

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3. Overview of Real-Time Airborne Data Management System for Emergency Response [download]

   The Pictometry Real-Time Airborne Management System or RAMS has been designed to fulfill the needs of the emergency respondents. The system has been designed to accommodate: Emergency response teams with critical situational awareness information; Rapid data dissemination strategy that supports decision making in the early days of a disaster, speeds response and protects lives. Traditionally tasks such as these have been done by sending individuals into the field. This is a time consuming and often dangerous assignment. When remote sensing data has been utilized it is often not current due to the extended time from data capture to data delivery. Space base systems can be used to capture data but are often limited due to resolution and cloud cover access to the target area. Aircraft have been utilized in the past but require hours or days of processing to permit data delivery to the client. These timelines are often unacceptable when lives are stake and rapid decisions are required. Key points will include: The solution for obtaining near-real time images for emergency response; Deployment of airplanes quickly; Transmission and receipt of large amounts of data; Data delivery within 15 seconds from capture; Ability to track planes in the air; Web based distribution of data.

   Presenters

   Charles Mondello

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4. Dramatically Improving Damage Assessment Capabilities of Emergence Management by Providing Multispectral Aerial Imagery and Digital Orthos Within days [download]

   In order to meet the immediate need for accurate information and to assist local, state, and federal officials in the rapid assessment of the devastation created by the severe weather of April 27th, Atlantic Group voluntarily acquired over 2000 line miles of imagery representing approximately 4000 images across 20 Alabama counties. Four band color and color infrared digital orthophotos at a 1.0 foot pixel resolution were generated from this imagery in an expedited manner. The majority of this effort was accomplished within 10 days of the severe weather event. The imagery acquired by Atlantic Group covered most of the State of Alabama areas affected by the April 27th, 2011 tornado outbreak. Due to the devastating impact from these storms over the region, coordination and planning was accomplished as rapidly as possible using the best available resources at the time. Due to the area wide power outage and In the interest of providing a rapid response, the flight planning over these locations was developed by using news resources, Internet, and email and through correspondence with local government officials to determine the track taken by the storms.

   These plans were developed well in advance of the information that was provided by the National Weather Service many days after the event. Since timing was a major factor in delivering the much needed data to government agencies, aerial imagery was acquired in what is typically considered substandard atmospheric conditions. After acquisition, the data including flight logs were brought to a temporary processing center (established at a local hotel since electricity was out throughout the region including our office) to be Mission Reported and post processed using ZI software. Delivery of the digital orthophoto data was accomplished via external hard drive to multiple local, state and federal agencies. The data was hand delivered to local EMA, Engineering, and other rapid response officials of each of the 20 respective counties. In addition, the entire data set for all counties was delivered via external hard drive to the Alabama EMA office in Clanton. Copies of all county data were also delivered via external hard drive to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Virtual Alabama), the Alabama Department of Criminal Justice, the Alabama Air National Guard, and the USGS EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Lessons Learned: Other than the poor weather and region wide power outage, the primary challenges faced were in data distribution to emergency management officials. Communications appeared to be very fragmented between county, state and federal agencies, and as a result we were asked to deliver copied of the same data to multiple government agencies.

   Rapid response to any natural disaster is an enormous challenge for any government entity. Access to accurate and timely information concerning the location and severity of damage is critical in early days after a disaster event. There is currently no mechanism in place for emergency management officials (local/state) to acquire timely and accurate high resolution aerial imagery of areas impacted by a disaster. Further, there is no functional distribution network to disperse the imagery to all levels of emergency management personnel in local and state agencies. It may be time for the state EMA office to consider establishing a mechanism and protocol for the acquisition and distribution of such critical disaster assessment information. Atlantic Data is still being used in cleanup efforts and for EMA training. Local Alabama universities are using the data to look at ways to provide more advanced meteorological information on wind force, track and timing storms.
    

   Presenters

   Patrick Harris

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