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Information Management

The Information Management Unit within the Bureau of Preparedness is responsible for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The unit is responsible for spatial analysis, cartography, the development of GIS applications and tools, information and data management, database administration, data maintenance, Groove Virtual Office administration, web development, as well as non-GIS application design, development, and deployment. During Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, we provide support through Emergency Support Function (ESF) 5: Information and Planning.

Our focus is to provide tools for decision makers and responders that will facilitate decisions which positively impact the outcome of an event. Additionally, during non-activation status one of the primary goals of the unit is to foster, enable, assist, respect and leverage technologies, information and datasets used by State Agencies to perform their daily activities. By striving to achieve this goal the State will be well positioned to effectively leverage all available data and technological assets in times of crisis.

2009 GIS Data Discovery Workshop

A GIS Data Discovery Workshop will be held at that State Emergency Operation Center from 9 AM – 5 PM on July 9, 2009.

Register to attend the event in person or register to attend the GoToWebinar, and please watch this page for more information.

Presentations and links and an agenda from last year's workshop are also available.

Ongoing Projects

Coastal LiDAR project and Regional Evacuation Studies

Strategic Planning for Statewide GIS Coordination - CAP Grant

Florida Implements US National Grid

Florida HAZUS User Group - FLHUG and FLHUG Google Group

Data and Critical Facilities

KML for Mapping and Visualization Incident Mapper

HAZUS Comprehensive Data Management System Web Portal

Florida is the second state in the nation to have embarked upon a project to create a web portal for updating HAZUS data. It is called the HAZUS Comprehensive Data Management System – or CDMS

For more information on the web portal, please join the Florida HAZUS User Group Google Group, see the FEMA CDMS web page, visit the portal at http://flhazusdata.com (user name and password required), or contact Richard Butgereit at 850-413-9907.

Other Florida GIS Projects

Environmental Resource Analysis Tools - ERAtools is pair of applications, an ArcMap report-writing extension and a desktop application which is used to create the analysis definition files used by the ArcMap extension. ERAtools was originally an ArcView 3 application started by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). ERAtools for ArcGIS was cooperatively developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and DEP. ERAtools is currently being implemented by FWC, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and DEP, among other agencies.

County Planning Maps - Florida DOT maintains planning maps by county.

Geospatial Dimensions of Emergency Response - The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) has created a unique forum to address the application of mapping technologies such as GIS, GPS, and remote sensing to emergency and disaster response. In response to a perceived need, GITA held the first ever Geospatial Dimensions of Emergency Response Symposium in Seattle, Washington in March 2008. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and, in 2009, the symposium will once again bring together the worlds of emergency response and planning and geospatial technology April 19-22 in Tampa, Florida. GITA also hosted a Geospatially Enabling Community Collaboration (GECCo) workshop on the 13th and 14th of January, 2009. The focus of GECCo is to help bring organizations involved in emergency/disaster response together to share geospatial information as it relates to all elements of planning, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Florida GeoSpatial Metadata Index - There is a significant amount of GIS data being gathered in Florida, by various organizations, and it is retained in a host of important service centers. The purpose of this site is help people find what they need and how to access it by serving as a locator and point system to geospatial data in Florida. This regional pilot project is ready to be expanded with your particpation!

Florida Geographic Data Library - The Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) is a mechanism for distributing spatial data throughout the state of Florida. The FGDL is warehoused and maintained at the University of Florida's GeoPlan Center, a GIS Research & Teaching Facility.

Florida Local Update of Census Addresses - The state has established the Florida Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program to improve the accuracy and completeness of Florida addresses contained in the United States, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census Master Address File for the 2010 Census. This program will ensure that all Florida's housing units and group quarters are included in the 2010 Census. LUCA is local government's only way to participate and ensure that the 2010 Census clearly represents your community. The data collected in the 2010 Census will be used by the federal, state, and local governments for funding, resource planning, and services through the next decade. Ensure that your area is correctly represented and that your local government gets its fair share of funding, resources, and services by signing up for LUCA and attending a workshop.

GIS Tools and Links

Geospatial Metadata Validation Service - Think your metadata is good? Just how compliant is your FGDC-Compliant metadata. Courtesy of the USGS Geoscience Data Catalog, put your metatdata to the test at their Geospatial Metadata Validation Service.

NSGIC's RAMONA GIS Inventory- RAMONA is produced by the National States' Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track the status of GIS in state and local government to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Ramona is designed to work in concert with Geospatial One-Stop. Please visit RAMONA and enter your data for Florida.