GIS Notes

By Chad A. Kudym, GIS Administrator, Information Services and Flood Warning Program

In 2006, the District completed a GIS master plan and started working towards several of the goals resulting from the plan.  The main goal is to develop a GIS layer that includes all of the district drainageway centerlines, names, identification numbers and associated stationing using existing FHADs and Master Plans.  The completion of this layer will provide a mapping context for many of the databases that are maintained by District staff.  Without a mapping context it is often difficult to accurately relate adjacent projects from various District programs through time.

The Floodplain Management Program utilized GIS in 2006 to develop a new method of informing residents of their flood risk (see article by Bruce Rindahl).  The District worked with Leonard Rice Engineers to implement an internet mapping site for floodplains.  The site includes a function to input an address and zoom to that area to view the best available floodplain information.  The floodplain layer is a mosaic of DFIRMs, FHADs, LOMRs and other sources of mapping.  A link to the floodplain mapping site can be found on the District’s homepage.

District student interns continue to use GIS as a basis for their routine maintenance documents.  The documents are made up of map pages with aerial photography backgrounds and GIS layers representing debris limits, maintenance limits and other data to help contractors.

In 2006, the District invested in new computer hardware to centralize GIS software and associated data.  The new hardware also automates data backup to protect the data.  Centralized GIS processing will also help standardize data access for better sharing between District programs.