Late last month, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced it was releasing an online application called "Flood Inundation Mapper"(FIM). As presented, this new tool combines in one platform some of the most important flood related services of the four contributing organizations: USGS - base map services and stream gage information, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - flood plain data, FEMA - HAZUS information, and the National Weather Service (NWS) - additional monitoring capabilities and real time data. Additional system features such as past site history and access to web cams give emergency managers and the public a powerful online tool that can be used during all phases of a flood related event. The Sweetwater Creek to the west of Atlanta, GA, an area that experienced devastating floods in 2009, was selected as the initial demonstration site for what is planned to be a nationwide program. To learn more use the links below:
USGS Unveils Flood Mapping Tool for Atlanta Suburb (USGS Newsroom, August 22, 2012)
Comment: WoW! What a concept - units of government working together to deliver in one place the important flood related information that they own! I can't say enough good things about this development and the folks at USGS, FEMA, USACE, and NWS who made it happen. Super effort! Furthermore, almost as impressive is the fact the map platform has only two select-able coordinate systems. Latitude/Longitude and ........(you'll just have to check out FIM to get the answer).
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