When the lights go out
Here the area is re-divided. Management area boundaries are shifted to best utilize the space available, minimize travel and eliminate one supported location all
together. This plan eliminates the overcrowding of existing facilities and
minimizes the flux of work and workers between work headquarters. Without
geographic information systems developing this plan would be a daunting task.
Validating the Models
Helicopter and ground patrols are initiated as soon as the winds die down. Since all of
the planning and deployment so far has been based on hypothetical wind fields and
models, it is important to gather and compare real information to decide early on whether
the models are correct. At the end of the day, what we really want to know is how long is
all of this going to take and unfortunately we will only really know that when it is all
over.
GPS satellite positioning is used in the survey to capture the location of damage. This
data is transmitted back for processing and posting. By comparing the expected damage
from the model to the observed damage from the survey we can determine whether any
early adjustment of the plan is warranted. Posting damage information on a map
improves its usefulness. Early helicopter patrols relied on video recording or still
pictures. It is generally difficult to relate these to locations and easy to loose your
bearings. Web-based information is also easier to share with all interested parties.
Aerial Patrol data is automatically compiled in FPL servers to provide
reconnaissance information across the network
Sharing Information
The final, and sometimes most difficult step is sharing the plan. Lots of people and lots
of agencies are involved in recovery of a major disaster and there is no shortage of data.
Having the right information or even current information in the right place less than two
weeks late is sometimes a challenge. Certainly this is more of a political challenge than it
is a technical challenge. Adequate systems and standards already exist to allow this
sharing.
What we all need is:
- " A means for all relevant public agencies to share information relevant to any disaster
recovery effort.
- " A common data platform where information can be uploaded by all subscribing
agencies (EOC, Forestry, Fire Rescue, Police, Public Works, FPL, CATV,
Telephone)
- " A means for all subscribing agencies to view the specific layers and area of interest
through an intuitive, easy to use, web-browser.
- " Servers and website outside any one agency and the commitment of each agency to
maintain good, current data for use by the others.
Conclusion
This has been a brief overview of some of the important uses of Geographic Information
at Florida Power & Light, as used in disaster recovery. This is only the beginning. As
more and more data becomes available the challenge will be to assimilate and share the
pertinent information without overloading the people who may already be stressed to
their limits.
Crisis occurs in the critical moments following a disaster. We cannot control the path of
a hurricane but we can avert a crisis with clear plans, good communication and useful
information. GIS and other information systems can help reduce the confusion and get
the lights back on.
