Joe Copsey GIS

This week I learned how GIS is utilized to assess damage after natural events such as hurricanes. First I created a map tracking the path of Hurricane Sandy, using custom symbology to represent the storm types. Next I learned how to create data in ArcGIS Pro, and how this data is used to assess damage and effectively provide relief after a natural disaster. I compared images from before and after Sandy, and determined the damage level of each structure within a study area. It was easy to identify which buildings had been destroyed or majorly damaged by the storm, but determining lesser levels of damage and flooding was more difficult using only an aerial view. I looked for debris surrounding the structures to give me an idea of the damage. I also had to use my better judgement when determining structure types outside of residential, and data detailing that would have been useful. I was not sure what to mark parcels containing parking lots, so I just classified them as unknown. I then n...

 This week I looked at the process for coastal flooding assessment. Using data from the effects of Hurricane Sandy on Mantoloking, New Jersey, I was able to see how the damage was assessed. This process is important for portraying the impact of the storm and structural damage. I created a raster comparing the shoreline of Mantoloking before and after Sandy, pictured in the map below.