1. Storytelling Big Data with Information Technologies
PIANC-SMART Rivers 2017
20 Sept 2017
Forrest Vanderbilt, D.Env.
Navigation and Civil Works Decision Support Center
Institute for Water Resources

2. Big Data and the Corps of Engineers
BLUF: Big Data (Boring) briefed by Engineers (Boring) has lead to:
Ineffective public communication
Loss of support for Corps projects
Lack of understanding of what the Corps does
How do we use existing technology to take the Big Data concept and train engineers to develop stories that tell the Corps Mission?

4. Improvements to Navigation Data
Navigation and Civil Works Decision Support Center (NDC) web site has been the primary portal for the public
Developed in the 1990’s
No major improvements or changes since early 2001
The web site meets the Corps requirements for data
It has been ineffective: most users give up before they get to the data
NDC staff has changed to way data is displayed, aligning and organizing data and using existing GIS technology to display both real time and historic data.

5. Navigation Data Viewer

6. Navigation Data Viewer

7. Navigation Data Viewer

8. Navigation Data Viewer

9. Navigation Data Viewer

10. Navigation Data Viewer

11. Navigation Data Viewer

12. Navigation Data Viewer

13. Big Data and the Corps of Engineers
CURRENT: Changing data display to GIS with both real time and historic trend information.
Navigation Viewer is operational now
Viewer is being moved to the cloud to improve access
Adding more data and views as requested by users
Industry including both shippers and carriers
Ports and shipping facilities
Corps leadership
Using open source and exiting GIS technology to reduce cost
Building MSC and District viewers as requested

14. Live Demonstrations Public Navigation Viewers:
National viewer:
LRD viewer:
Comments from users will improve these sites!

15. Questions? Forrest Vanderbilt 703-428-6288