Overview of FEMA’sMultihazard Mapping Initiative

Scott McAfee

January 22, 2001

Origin of Project

Disaster Mitigation Act 2000; Section 203• Develop multihazard advisory maps

– Identify applicable natural hazards– Be developed in consultation with primary users– Utilize cost effective and efficient technology– Should not affect existing policies

• 5 communities in different states• Mitigation zones• No funding

MMI Strategy

• Build off of existing FEMA initiatives– GIS Atlas/Clearinghouse (Web GIS)

• Modified deliverables to ramp up a working system quickly

– Open GIS Consortium – MMI-1 Pilot• Develop a prototype interoperable hazard map network

• Avoid duplication and keep costs down• Develop policy through a users group

– Mostly state and local government but federal participants welcome

Atlas/Clearinghouse

• Atlas– For public, emergency managers, planners,

decision makers, etc.– Provides high contrast option for 508– ArcIMS map viewer

• Clearinghouse– Upload and download of hazard data and

metadata

Why Open GIS?

• Natural hazard data exist– in many formats– at all levels of government

• FEMA primarily responsible for flood maps• Too much data and too dynamic to maintain

in one place• Many hazard maps are designed to have

DOQQ or topographic base

Publish

Visualize

Discover

OGC

WEB

SERVICES

= Web Server

Open GIS Conceptual ArchitectureOpen GIS Conceptual Architecture

Value-Add

Service/Data RegistriesWeb Mapping - Data ServersWeb Mapping - Portrayal Services

StateState

NGONGO

LocalLocal

FederalFederal

Hazard

Map

Sources

UniversityUniversity

MMI-1 Framework

Hazard Map Discovery and Visualization

Web-Based Thin ClientsWeb-Based Thin Clients& GIS Applications& GIS Applications

Applications

MMI Support• Harvard Design and Mapping• Michael Baker Jr. Corp.• OGC and participants

– Compusult– Cubeworks– Intergraph– Ionic– MapInfo– SAIC/ESRI

MMI Status

Phase I – Current Status• Develop a national web-based

map server

• Establish links to, or incorporate external databases

• Recruit and coordinate with federal, state, and local partners

• Develop interoperability standards for hazard data exchange

• Goes Public January 28

• In progress

• Current partners include NOAA, USGS

• In progress

Future plans

Phase II & III• Continue to develop and enhance the multi-hazard

mapping network– Identify, develop, and implement required specs

– Increase capabilities

– Add Web Map Servers (esp. for base data)

• Add more federal, state, and local databases

Policy issues

• Not for disaster response (yet)• Not for homeland security (yet)• What are the incentives for other agencies

to make their data available– Credit where credit is due: Logos?– How easy will it be for participants to set up

services?– Use CAG to address these issues

Who are we building this for?

• Federal agencies• NGO’s• State agencies• Emergency managers• Local government• GIS people• Politicians• General public

Conclusions

• Quick ramp up with proprietary system• Make a part of NSDI; GS 1 stop; FEMA e-

gov• Phase in interoperability with little or no

interruption to existing system• Build partnerships and encourage data

submittal and WMS development• Continue funding to enhance the network