GIS for Utility Protection and Expedited Recovery after a Hurricane Steve Henderson GIS Coordinator

Recent Disaster Declarations Gulf Shores, Alabama ► Hurricane Fredrick – Strong Cat. 3 – 1979 – “Historic Hurricane Event” – Very few storms 80’s to early 90’s ► Hurricane Opal – Typical Cat. 2 – 1995 ► Hurricane Danny – “Revenue Event” Cat. 1 – 1997 ► Hurricane Georges – Typical Cat. 2 – 1998 ► Tropical Storm Isidore - “Surprising” Storm Surge ► Hurricane Ivan – “Strong” Cat. 3 – 2004 ► Hurricane Katrina – “Very Strong” Near Miss – 2005

Initial Post Disaster Conditions ► Storm surge deposits lines of thick debris in several locations ► Beach roads accessing most rental properties are covered by sand

Initial Post Disaster Recovery Issues ► Initial clearing of roads further buries utilities on the edges of ROW’s ► Removal of sand and debris from private land covers them again

Initial Post Disaster Recovery Issues ► Efforts are made to educate residents not to cover utilities during debris removal ► Wouldn’t it be nice to know if this might have a damaged gas meter under it?

Gulf Shores Mapping Needs ► Mapping of surface utility points can reduce utility damage during the recovery efforts.

Pre Disaster Mapping for better Post Disaster Communications ► Centralized mapping of critical facilities can help with inter-agency communication to send resources such as generators to critical facilities or to help access and secure them. ► Each utility has different scale and size maps with only their particular utilities information.

Critical Facility Information

2008 Pilot Project ► Auburn University requests input in 2007 from Baldwin County officials on a research thesis studying the the use of technology to decrease recovery time.

2008 Pilot Project ► Participation in the research project leads to Gulf Shores asking Auburn University to partner in a pilot project to determine the feasibility of using students to collect utility data using hand held GPS units. ► Auburn Engineering Technical Assistance Program resources includes a multi-discipline Business and Engineering course where student learn to solve real- world problems. ► The City asks Volkert and Associates engineering firm to help train students via webinar and setup the City’s GPS units for the pilot.

► Located visible utilities in R.O.W.’s and input their location into the GPS unit 2008 Pilot Project Student Field Work

Pilot Study Data Accuracy ► “Sub-Meter” GPS units accuracy is at best sub-meter, actual results +/- six feet.

Pilot Study Area Results ► Volkert employees demonstrated the use of the GPS’s and City personnel showed the utility points to be collected to the student teams and were available to guide them and answer questions. ► 509 Utility points located in 1.7 miles of R.O.W.  27 Electric meters or transformers (should have collected power poles)  29 Cable or Fiber optic accesses  19 Gas valves  73 Phone pedestals  77 Sewer manholes or laterals  33 Fire hydrants  241 Water meters or valves The “sub-meter” maximum accuracy of the GPS units was only adequate to create maps showing the approximate locations of utilities, limiting the data’s usefulness. The “sub-meter” maximum accuracy of the GPS units was only adequate to create maps showing the approximate locations of utilities, limiting the data’s usefulness.

Pilot Study Area Results

Auburn University Grant Applications ► National Science Foundation Technology Grant – Not awarded ► Economic Development Administration Grant – Awarded 2 year grant to help make Alabama coastal communities more disaster resilient. Includes Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Bayou La Batre, and Baldwin and Mobile County Coastal Areas.

EDA Grant Timeline ► Grant Awarded by U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration – Sept ► Dept. of Homeland Security – Virtual Alabama becomes partners with project - Nov ► GPS Training Session - Training team leaders – Volkert and Associates – Jan ► First data collection session planned for Feb – Canceled due to the “Great Southern Snow of 2010” ► First 3 data collection weekends of Feb 20, 27, Mar. 6, no data collection planned for peak spring break weekends ► Data collection, review, quality checks to continue in April and through the summer.

Higher Accuracy GPS Units ► +/- 1 foot maximum accuracy adds possibilties of data used more than maps ► Use Hand held GPS units to flag utility locations prior to excavation

Higher Accuracy GPS Units ► Equipment mounted notebooks/tablets might allow excavation operators to know when they are approaching a utility before they dig ► Debris removal crews can check as they approach a debris pile to see what might have been buried.

Training ► Student team leaders prepare training manuals for GPS use and utility types.

Data Collection ► Two person teams look for utilities and collect data points and photographs.

Progress ► Student team leaders track progress and measure progress and work with faculty to document accuracy and eliminate errors.

Encouraging Utility Participation

First Review?

Utility – Data Sharing Concerns ► Existing data is not up to date ► Not all areas are mapped ► As-builts do not reflect all changes ► Fear of misuse by others - Call before you dig ► Competitive Issues ► Outside Security Requirements ► Loss of Control

Utility Coordination

Area Utility Providers ► Water and Sewer Survey Quality GPS data of visible utility points (sewer manholes, valves, hydrants, and water meters) as of AutoCAD model of main water line locations developed by engineering consultant on County parcel data. Scanned paper as-builts of remaining underground utilities.

Area Utility Providers ► Power AutoCAD based utility model converted to ESRI based data but not georeferenced.

Area Utility Providers ► Telephone and Internet MicroStation/Bentley based utility model developed in the 1990’s. Not georeferenced.

Area Utility Providers ► Natural Gas (Gulf Shores Area) AutoCAD based utility model for Gas. We have imported data and it appears to overlay accurately. Independent GPS data on valve and meter locations has also been provided.

Area Utility Providers ► Fiber Optic Services AutoCAD construction drawings. Individual segments will have to be imported and connected.

Area Utility Providers ► Fiber Optic Services AutoCAD construction drawings. They are willing to import and connect the individual drawing segments if we provide base layers.

Data Viewing – Gulf Shores GIS

Memorandum of Agreement Making data available online with Virtual Alabama

Data Sharing Options – Google Earth

Data Sharing Options Virtual Alabama ► Developed as a common visualization tool for 2D and 3D data for first responders. ► Can host data which can be viewed but not downloaded. ► Or provide a link to secured offsite data…

Where do we go from here? ► This project is still in its early stages. ► First step to encourage utilities to determine what they can share and how they can update the information as part of their normal business procedures.

Where do we go from here? ► ► Find state and regional sponsors? ► ► Utility Associations? ► ► Develop standards?