In this lesson, we will focus on how geospatial perspectives and technology are used in response to emergency situations. Geospatial analysis has tremendous potential for aiding disaster response, but as you will learn, it is not easy to quickly translate geospatial data into actionable information when lives are at stake. Responders need to know where to go and how to get there, and emergency managers need to understand and react to a changing situational picture.
Actions taken immediately before, during and after an event to alleviate suffering and prepare for recovery
By the successful completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
Lesson 5 is one week in length. To finish this lesson, you must complete the activities listed below.
To Read |
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To Do |
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Please refer to the Course Calendar for specific due dates.
If you have questions about the content or lesson activities, please post them to the General Questions and Discussion forum in Canvas. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate. If your question is of a personal nature, please email me directly through Canvas.
In the wake of a serious disaster, geospatial analysts along with other emergency managers are expected to provide a wide array of information with short deadlines for a variety of important tasks. First, it is essential for everyone involved to have a clear sense of the current situation (situation awareness) and to receive updates on the situational picture as time progresses. This can be a serious challenge because often a disaster can impact the types of data that are available. Also, consider the extreme case of the EOC for New York on 9/11 which was located at 7 World Trade Center, and its state-of-the-art equipment and data were destroyed as a result of the attacks.
You can read more here on how GIS resources were developed on an ad hoc basis during the 9/11 crisis [4]. It is interesting to contrast these activities with what is possible now, over 20 years later! In particular, think about the crowdsourcing and crisis mapping efforts you read about in the Digital Humanitarians chapters.
Any geospatial plan for responding to an emergency or crisis should consider several key questions:
Even contemporary web-based geospatial systems present possible challenges in a real crisis situation. While cloud-hosted solutions can help avoid the risks associated with data storage in a single EOC, many disasters make Internet access difficult or impossible. We will consider this issue in more detail later.
The most pressing need facing geospatial managers during the immediate aftermath of a disaster is to estimate the impact of the disaster on the local population to determine where first responders should focus their rescue efforts. This problem requires an awareness of the scale and scope of the disaster as well as the ability to know where response resources are located, what their capabilities are, and what routes are available for them to take to those who need their help.
As an example, consider the May 22, 2011 tornado that went through Joplin, Missouri. The map above shows locations of key facilities and estimated building damage levels. Developing an understanding of the scope of damage during and immediately following an event is a key goal for geospatial analysis. Spatial data on the location and functions of key facilities can be developed as part of mitigation and preparedness.
Later in this lesson, we will consider these issues in greater detail when we look at (near) real-time mapping and spatial analytics. The data and tools to support emergency management are changing rapidly and are much more advanced than they were just a few years ago.
On the next page, you'll find your reading assignment for this week, where we'll delve deeper into how GIS and other spatial tools are used during response activities, including a focus on the limitations of GIS systems in response situations.
The readings for this week focus on the fourth component of emergency management, response. You will read an overview chapter from your textbook, review a situation awareness briefing from FEMA during Hurricane Maria, and a book chapter on emergency management communications technology.
"GIS for Disaster Management" - Chapter 7 - "Disaster Management and Geographic Information Systems"
Previous readings have focused on how GIS can be used to avoid disasters, mitigate the consequences of events that may happen in the future, and prepare (in those cases where there is warning) for a disastrous event that is likely to happen (e.g., a hurricane that exists and has a predicted track and severity). These chapters focuses on how GIS can help in situations where an emergency/crisis is unfolding and shows how a well-reasoned, timely response can make a difference in the consequences of a disaster. Have a look at the entire chapter but focus on pages 192 - 203 – Geographical Aspects of Situational Awareness.
What are the key inter-agency coordination issues that should be considered to make a GIS-based response effort successful? How might recent advances in location-based services change the ways in which emergency management professionals and the public interact through geospatial information and technologies to respond to a disaster?
Situation awareness described in FEMA Geospatial Coordination Updates on two days during Hurricane Maria. The PDF's are located in Module 5 of Canvas.
These slide decks supported one of the daily coordination briefings that FEMA ran in the days up to and following Hurricane Maria. They provide a nice summary of what different FEMA teams and allied agencies are doing. It is meant to provide an overall summary of the current situation. Contrast these "hard copy" products with newer web based tools in the FEMA Geospatial Resource Center. [10]
Take note of the range of information and resources contributing to situation awareness for this event. Does anything seem to be missing? How well do you think the work of this group may support other parts of the emergency response e.g., search and rescue teams?
Norris, C. 2018. Chapter 2 - Computer Networks and Emergency Management from Technology and Emergency Management found in Module 5 of Canvas.
Finally, I’d like you to think a bit more about communication systems during disasters. This book chapter provides some interesting, albeit a bit basic, information on communication systems and then describes some of the ways they are impacted by disasters and how they can be restored during a disaster. It is good background given how much geospatial technologies depend on reliable ICT.
You might also be interested in this late 2017 news article on What Happens to the Internet After a Disaster? [11]
What are some of the specific geospatial challenges to communication and IT systems disruptions during emergencies? Does this make geospatial approaches vulnerable and potentially ineffective? Are there new ways for restoring these resources in a hurry?
This discussion will be graded out of 15 points.
Please see the Discussion Expectations and Grading page under the Orientation and Course Resources module for details.
This week’s emerging theme focuses on the topic of looking at disasters and maintaining situation awareness in (near) real time. To complete this section, you will need to:
For this exercise, we are going to focus primarily on the Solutions for Emergency Management [12] apps that have been developed by Esri and are based on their suite of ArcGIS technologies, especially cloud and web-based GIS services. Also, see Esri’s Disaster Response Program [13] website for the help the company offers during emergencies. There are other systems out there, some that leverage major industry platforms and some that are developed in-house from open-source software (e.g., recall InaSAFE [14], PDC [15], and even Google Crisis Response [16]).
Regardless of the system being used, they have similar goals such as providing:
Before developing your own situation awareness app, have a look at the two videos and the optional reading below. The first (short) video is an overview of a case study where these approaches are used by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The second (longer) video provides more detailed examples about incorporating live data feeds into a situational awareness app and dashboard using Esri tools. These concepts are further discussed in the optional reading from The ArcGIS Book.
I know this is a long video. If you don't have time to watch the entire video, please have a look at the first 10-15 minutes or so.
Chapter 9: Mapping The Internet Of Things [18] from The ArcGIS Book
As a companion to the two videos, you might want to have a look at this book chapter from Esri. At least keep it in mind as a resource as you work through the rest of the exercise.
There is no Emerging Theme Discussion this week.
The next page will provide you with the details of the Exercise and writing assignment that are due this week.
For the analysis part of this exercise, you will consider the applications of (near) real-time geospatial tools for emergency management in greater detail. You should critically evaluate what is already out there and what is required for an effective decision support system utilizing dynamic and real-time spatial data. Once again, you are assuming the role of a geospatial analyst that is planning for and responding to emergency situations.
This assignment is worth 50 points toward the exercise portion of your course grade.
This assignment will be grading using the following rubric.
Criteria | Description | Possible Points |
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Part 1 – Critique of existing systems and design advice |
You make strong and logical arguments and provide analytical insights. Ideas are well organized, clearly communicated and relevant to the prompt. All criteria are accurately addressed. Supporting details are shared, elaborated upon and demonstrate understanding. Examples are provided, and your essay includes images or other multimedia that support content. | 20 |
Part 2 – Needs assessment and dashboard demo | You make strong and logical arguments and provide analytical insights. Ideas are well organized, clearly communicated and relevant to the prompt. All criteria are accurately addressed. Supporting details are shared, elaborated upon and demonstrate understanding. Examples are provided, and your essay includes images or other multimedia that support content. | 20 |
Overall - Clarity and Mechanics |
Evidence of editing and proofreading are evident. Writing is engaging and well-structured with excellent transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Concepts are integrated in an original manner. Mechanics (word limits and other requirements) were met. |
10 |
This week, you should be making significant progress on the first draft of your term project. Your goal should be to make the first draft as high quality as possible, with the idea that doing so will mean you have less work ahead of you to complete your second (and final) draft.
I have designed the timing of this assignment so that I have time to read your full drafts, offer feedback and editing suggestions, and return them to you with enough time left in the course so you can revise your work before submitting a final version.
Here are my expectations for your first draft:
Criteria | Description | Possible Points |
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Introduction | The introduction meaningfully engages the target audience/reader and clearly presents the central argument along with its substantive, technical and applied contexts. | 15 |
Background and Supporting Research |
The paper is well researched and contains references to peer-reviewed articles, government documents and industry reports that relate to the arguments in a logical manner. |
30 |
Analysis and Interpretations |
The design and implementation of a methodology was appropriately used to address the central arguments of your topic. Critical, relevant and consistent connections are made between evidence and central arguments. Includes appropriate use of maps, graphics, and tables. Analytical insights are sound and show a deep understanding of the issues. Depending on your selected topic, this may involve describing the steps taken for data analysis and mapping (NOTE –step by step instructions can be put into an appendix and will not count against word limits – discuss this with the instructor). |
30 |
Conclusion |
Excellent summary of topic and central arguments with concluding statements that impacts the target audience/reader. 10 | 10 |
Writing | There is evidence of editing and proofreading. Writing is engaging and well-structured with excellent transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Writing is polished and professional. Concepts are integrated in an original manner. | 15 |
This week, you should complete at least the first half of your term project draft. You will have all of this week and next week to complete your first draft, and since you have other assignments in this course, I recommend you manage your time accordingly.
If you're like me and you have trouble getting started on writing assignments, consider this piece of advice I heard from a colleague about completing a Ph.D. dissertation:
"Every day, set aside a writing task for yourself that is so small that you cannot possibly fail to complete it."
When I was writing my dissertation, I set little goals for myself every day that mirrored this advice. For me, it worked best to set a specific word count that I had to achieve every day. For you, there may be better ways to motivate yourself, so your mileage may vary.
Remember, if you have any questions while you are working on your first draft, just send me an email or leave a post on the Questions and Comments Discussion in Canvas.
Effective response to a disaster depends on quickly synthesizing actionable information and disseminating that information to responders in the field. Geospatial data systems and analyses are frequently used to assemble the "big picture" in a disaster. Among other things, it is essential for geospatial systems to help decision makers understand where first responder resources are located and where help is needed.
This week, we also focused attention on another challenge for geospatial systems in response situations. Quite often, a significant disaster will destroy the infrastructure that had been designed to support emergency management. For example, we learned about how an ad hoc system was developed in New York after 9/11. One way of avoiding this kind of problem is to distribute the emergency management geospatial system through a local network or via the Internet where it can be accessed from multiple entry points. This type of approach makes it less important that all emergency management personnel are in the same place.
Up to this point, we have covered mitigation, preparedness, and response topics for emergency management GIS. In the next lesson, we will move on to the final stage of emergency management and explore how geospatial data and analysis is used in longer-term recovery efforts to rebuild disaster areas.
You have reached the end of Lesson 5! Double-check the to-do list on the Lesson 5 Overview page to make sure you have completed all of the activities listed there before you begin Lesson 6.
Links
[1] https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2001663380/
[2] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
[3] https://www.scemd.org/who-we-are/state-emergency-operations-center/
[4] http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0102articles/nyc-creating.html
[5] http://www.digitalglobe.com/
[6] https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/resilience-rises-tragedy-joplin
[7] https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/ops-dashboard/decision-support/dashboards-for-emergency-response/
[8] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog858/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog858/files/Lesson_05/Files/Maria_GeoUpdate_20170920.pdf
[9] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog858/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog858/files/Lesson_05/Files/Maria_GeoUpdate_20170924.pdf
[10] https://gis-fema.hub.arcgis.com
[11] http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/10/what-happens-to-the-internet-after-a-disaster.html
[12] https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-for-emergency-management
[13] https://www.esri.com/en-us/disaster-response/overview
[14] http://inasafe.org/
[15] https://www.pdc.org/
[16] https://crisisresponse.google/products
[17] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog858/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog858/files/Lesson_05/Files/Leveraging%20Live%20Feeds%20for%20Situational%20Awareness%20Transcript.docx
[18] https://learn.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-book/chapter9/
[19] http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
[20] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog858/node/786