Deepwater Horizon GIS Data Concerns
Friends -
On June 9 of this year, I sent a letter stating my concerns about access to Deepwater Horizon GIS data to government officials, incident command personnel, and concerned individuals. The letter describes in detail the GIS work completed at ICP Houma in the month of May, and it suggests that all responders were not being provided direct access to GIS data in a National Incident Management (NIMS) compliant manner. See www.thegisinstitute.org for a summary of the GIS activity. See the letter in its final form at www.thegisinstitute.org/letter
I feel this particular problem has been clearly stated. It is the core mission of The GIS Institute to understand the geotechnical challenges around a mission, and then move into the creative process of understanding and sharing solutions, even when the challenges appear constant and compelling. I am now working on the proposal to create supplemental architecture and workflow, which will provide GIS data access to all who need it; responders, EOC staff, state and local government officials, researchers, and the general public. BP is hosting a viewer at http://www.gulfofmexicoresponsemap.com/dwhi/ We hope to see more data and tools on this viewer, with the ability to download data to any local GIS unit for further research and analysis.
I felt powerless watching the news in the first two weeks of the Deepwater Horizon incident… once I was at the ICP in Houma, I put all of my passion, and that of the friends and family, into creating a state-of-the-art GIS to support the response. Everyone involved with deploying and contributing to the GIS in Houma is working passionately, and under a rapidly evolving scenario. New processes and ideas are constantly refining the work, and they way we work, every day.
There is plenty of anger and blame surrounding this environmental disaster, and I encourage all involved to keep focused on solutions. Many thanks for all of the support!
Drew Stephens, Director,
The GIS Institute
PO Box 1124 Boulder, CO 80306
Dear Drew Stephens, Director GIS Institute,
I am Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud a Nigerian, resident in Nigeria. Currently i am employed with the Nigerian National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA)as an Environmental Scientist (GIS Mapping Scientist/Analyst) I am actively involved in the process of ensuring NOSDRA finally implements a functional GIS Lab just as you have over there. I have been following the BP, GIS and the Mysterious open letter discussion and i am interested working closely with you and your team to gain experience and exposure as i am actively involved in the NOSDRA GIS implementation.
Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud
[...] also have a gag order on the GIS data for this incident, in direct contradition with NIMS protocol. Here’s a letter from the GIS Institute’s founder and the guy that set up the GIS servers and [...]
[...] are here. The statement that is now posted where the original was once apparently posted is here. Share on FacebookSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Explanation and Pointer to the Vanishing Open [...]
Drew,
I recently got the “call” in the form of the following (see below). Ad you might imagine, I am thrilled with the prospect of being able to leverage my skills to help out any way I can. Alas, however, one must first clear management, yes ?
GIS Experienced Staff,
The California Department of Fish and Game has been actively engaged since the beginning of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, sending field personnel to the Gulf. Initially OSPR deployed personnel to conduct wildlife operations, shoreline cleanup assessment (SCAT), GIS, alternate response technologies, and natural resource damage assessment. As of today, we have increased our support to the effort by providing 12 personnel in 16 days rotational assignments (1 day travel, 14 days on scene, 1 day return). Staff have worked in the states of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.
As the severity of the oil impacts intensifies, the need to capture and document spatial data has increased. The response has the need for potential ongoing GIS support and at this time are seeking experienced GIS professionals in performing duties including but not limited to:
1. On screen digitizing using electronic topo/digital imagery
2. Creating field maps and other incident map products
3. Download / Process GPS data
4. Download / Process photo data (Google GPicSync freeware / GPS Photo Link)
5. Database entry (MS Access & NOAA software)
If you are interested, please obtain approval from your immediate supervisor and Regional Manager / Branch Chief and provide me your dates of availability from June 28th through October 2010.
Please note that this is not a request for deployment but rather a polling of availability that we are coordinating NOAA on deployment of DFG staff.
The advantages of having staff participate include:
– ability to make a difference in the largest environmental disaster in US history
– staff development and experience that could not be gained no where else
– paid overtime (approx. 80-100 hours)
– salary savings for your unit during their deployment
GIS personnel do not need hazwoper training. However, they do need to have a laptop with GIS software installed.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 916 324-0000
Thank you
Randy Imai
Environmental Program Manager I
Department of Fish and Game
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Physical Address:
1700 K Street, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95818
Wk: (916) 324-0000
Fax: (916) 324-8829
Cell: (916) 826-5271
What i think is that we should contain the leak as i entered my sugestion to do so.
I feel that the coastal states should have been prepared for this or close to it. any state city planner should alway take into mind that oil plants have accidents and the communities around them have plans on what to do. to blame means that they were not ready or had not thought of the dangers that exist. to point the finger as i was taught a long time ago is when you point the finger you have 4 pointing back at you. this is a disaster lets treat it like one. let the investigators do they do.
BP is not getting do process as the law states they admitted to some fault but let the court do their job and stop the trial that is be introduced by the media causing mass judgement before due process