GIS INTERNSHIP FOR DISASTER PLANNING PREPARATION
Emergency planning is key to saving lives and
minimizing property damage in the event of a major disaster. Southern
California is particularly at-risk as a result of earthquakes, fires
or a catastrophe at one of the area’s many refineries, airports
or harbors.
Effective planning for response involves understanding how to prevent
or minimize consequences of emergencies and acquire the information and
data necessary to respond. Achieving these goals requires the identification
of critical infrastructure and resources as well as a sound understanding
of how emergencies unfold. Effective response is realized
when planning and preparedness investments are sufficient to ensure continuity
of effort.
GIS is an extremely important method of effectively preparing for disasters.
To help Cities prepare, the Disaster Planning Coordinator for Area G,
Mike Martinet, has partnered with Palos Verdes on the Net (PVNET) to
provide an internship for PVNET GIS interns in GIS Disaster Planning
preparation for Cities in Area G which is comprised of 14 Cities in the
Southbay. Mr. Martinet will provide direction and act as a mentor
PVNET, a 501c3, has brought together in our new PVNET/ANNEX GIS Center
in Rancho Palos Verdes, the opportunity for College level students to
gain GIS based Disaster Planning Preparation experience in once in a
lifetime opportunity while being mentored by a highly respected professional
in the industry.
Interns will learn about GIS tools and to utilize geographic information
system (GIS) for preparing the data and maps necessary for emergency
planning.
GIS maps graphically display such hazards as, gas, electrical and water
lines within the city. Identify the location of schools and hospitals
near these and other haszards. For low lying coastal communities it can
identify tsunami risk areas. Available resources such as food (markets),
water, construction equipment and supplies can be graphically displayed
as well as emergency staging areas. The systems can also store and display
information on at-risk residents that would be at-risk in the event of
an emergency.
Knowing where critical assets are located and having first access to
key data and information necessary for optimal response can be addressed
through the purposeful implementation of GIS. Geospatial information
is required from the moment an emergency call is received; it would answer
the following questions:
- Where
is the emergency?
- What is the best route?
- Where are the closest hydrants and/or water sources?
- Where are the nearest critical facilities?
A limited fund is available for stipends to be paid to interns who complete
the training, and then work on projects.
Intern Orientations are held on weekends. Questions an inquiries may
be emailed to [email protected]
Blair Harkins,
PVNET GIS Department |