Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
MOD Team TimesE-Newsletter for MOD Team Members
Inside This Issue
This month, FEMA approved the Multihazard Information Platform (MIP) Release 3 Requirements Document, a 436-page volume that describes the technical and functional aspects of the final release of the MIP. By accepting the Release 3 requirements document, FEMA confirmed that the solution the MOD team created meets FEMA’s requirements.
“FEMA’s acceptance is great news because it gives the MOD team confidence that the design and implementation of the requirements will minimize rework caused by misinterpreted requirements,” said Bruce Higgins, Deputy Program Executive.
This MIP release will build upon previous releases to integrate the workflow and map production tools. It will modify the workflow to capture selected intermediate engineering data and associated metadata for a project throughout its workflow process.
Enhancements will include:
· Ability to capture and retrieve intermediate Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM)/Data Capture Standards (DCS) and non-DFIRM/DCS data
· Ability for the Geospatial community to search and retrieve DFIRM/DCS data via Geospatial One-Stop
· Validation of data submissions with quality control tools
· Security for access to intermediate data
· Enhancements to the map viewer· Integration of Watershed
Information SystEm (WISE™) and DFIRM tools
· Establish a semi-automated MT-EZ approval process for Letters of
Map Amendment (LOMAs), referred to as eLOMA
· Ability to sequence projects in the MIP, replacing the functions in the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) spreadsheet
· Ability to track procurement acquisition lead time
MIP Release 3 will assist multiple stakeholders. FEMA users will include Headquarters and Regional staff and project and regional engineers. MOD team users will include program and project managers and project and mapping engineers. From the professional community, users will include engineers, surveyors, architects, IDIQ contractors, and Geographic Information System professionals. From the public stakeholder user group, general web users are the primary audience.
Source: Ryan Waller (703) 317-6279
FEMA Approves MIP Release 3 Requirements Document
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
◊ MIP Requirements Document
◊ CTP Training
◊ DFIRM Tools Training
◊ MIP Release 2.2
◊ Did You Know?
◊ ASFPM Conference Update
◊ Conference Room Internet
◊ Spring MHIP ◊ DFIRM Tools
Suite
Please Submit Article Ideas to:
Ben Accurti(703) 960-8800 ext. 5304
Portal
Single
Sign-On Single Sign-On
Portal
Manage
Extract
Share
Produce
Stakeholders
CustomersPartners
Web MappingServices
FederationServices
Web MappingServices
FederationServices
DataDevelopment
& Processing
Maintenance
Distribution
Needs
AssessmentProject
Scoping
ManagementTools
CustomTools
E-Learning &Collaboration Tools
ProductionTools
Management,Production, &
GIS Official Data
Shared PartnerMaintained Data
FederatedData
CTPs,N.C., etc.
USGS, MMI,Geo One-Stop,
etc.FEMAExternal
Geospatial ExternalData Stewards
IntegratedWorkflow
The MIP will enable people across the Nation to virtually produce, manage, extract, and share mapping data.
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day
weekend!
1010
99
88
77
66
55
44
33
2211
RMC LEAD E-MAILS1 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Page 2
Staff members in Regional Management Centers (RMCs) 3 and 4 and personnel from four mapping partners recently completed training on the newly-released Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) tools as part of the tools rollout. Alexandria staff took advantage of a WebEx connection to deliver the virtual training in several locations across the United States.
At least five additional week-long sessions are scheduled to train mapping partners across the Nation using the convenient web-based service as the delivery mechanism, thus reducing the need for travel by participants and trainers. The purpose of the training is to show
mapping partners how to properly use the tools, which are designed to promote an efficient,
quality driven approach to DFIRM and DFIRM database production according to FEMA
requirements.
Mapping partners must complete training before they can begin using the tools.
As part of the training, DFIRM tools users sign on to a WebEx connection and view presentation slides and tool demonstrations at their own workstations. Throughout the three WebEx training days, the users also complete hands-on exercises and interact with the trainer via a speaker phone. The two non-WebEx training days are designed to allow participants to practice using the tools and bring questions back to the trainer on the WebEx training days.
All WebEx training days use a set of canned, training data. If the users have submitted data to upload, they may practice with their own data on the two non-WebEx days.
MOD team members at the 10 RMCs are coordinating mapping partners’ access to the DFIRM tools training, as
well as access to the Multihazard Information Platform
Technology Used to Deliver Remote DFIRM Tools Training
Since the inception of the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program, FEMA has offered training for CTP
participants. In response to feedback received from previous CTP training courses, FEMA, supported by the MOD team, developed and delivered technical training courses for CTPs to provide
up-to-date training.
The “Advanced Cooperating Technical Partners” course, offered at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, MD, was recently offered from May 2 to May 5. This course addressed new technology and
provided CTPs with advanced technical training on Digital Flood Insurance Study Rate Map (DFIRM) creation. Taught in a computer lab, this course included a comprehensive, fast-paced agenda that covered a variety of topics from creating a DFIRM to adopting the final DFIRM.
Participants included 27 representatives of local, regional, and State CTPs. FEMA representatives attended both as students and to support MOD team instructors. This sought-after curriculum was well received and FEMA plans to host another course, from August 29 to September 1, at EMI.
For more information on this or other CTP training courses, please contact Necolle Maccherone at [email protected] or visit the CTP Web site at www.fema.gov/fhm/ctp_train.shtm.
Source: Beth Norton (703) 960-8800 ext. 5293
CTP Training Held at EMI
The MOD Team Trains Mapping Partners on the DFIRM Tools
See Training Page 3
Page 3
Sneak Peak: MIP Release 2.2 Study Workflow
Training(MIP) where the tools reside. The third virtual training session is being held this week; and additional training sessions will be held during the weeks of May 30 and June 6, 20, and 27. Demand for the sessions was great, and additional sessions may be offered later this summer by request to accommodate those who were unable to get one of the coveted spots.
Mapping partners interested in receiving training may contact the appropriate RMC lead for additional information. (See map on Page 2 for RMC contacts.)
Source: Katie Field (703) 960-8800 ext. 5206
Continued from page 2
This month at the systems and tools IPT meeting, the MOD team gave FEMA a sneak preview of the much anticipated Release 2.2 of the Multihazard Information Platform (MIP), also known as the Workflow release.
The Workflow is the automated process that pushes steps (such as the hydraulic data development step) in the flood map study process from one user to another. In addition to FEMA, Regional Management Center (RMC) leads, select Baker executives and MOD team Alexandria staff had the opportunity to preview the release.
The demonstrations of the “live” system in the test environment were important to show that the MIP Release 2.2 is well on its way, and it’s easy to use.
Nancy Steinberger, Studies Subject Matter Expert, conducted the demo for the RMC leads. “We logged into the system, created a new project, ran through several complete workflow process steps, and described the features of the MIP as we went along,” she said. “People could see how user friendly the MIP is and how MIP Release 2.2 will make study processing steps easy to perform. So far, reactions have been very positive!”
One of the most significant benefits of MIP Release 2.2 is that FEMA and mapping partners will be able to see online – for the first time – the status of all study projects across the Nation. The workflow functions of Release 2.2 will also allow mapping partners to forecast their workload and see the project status online. In addition, the documented workflow process will benefit everyone by providing a consistent definition of the national study process that can be used for training purposes, writing scopes of work for studies, and as a starting point for discussions on study process improvements. To view the workflow process on Baker’s Intranet go to http://alex.mbakercorp.com/fema/workflow/.
Source: Kira Brooks (703) 317-3067
THE MIP HAS BEEN “LIVE” FOR NEARLY A YEAR
WH
AT
IS O
N T
HE
MIP
?
June 2004 The first release of the MIP provides a Web site and multilayer map viewer, laying the foundation for subsequent releases.
January 2005 The next release deployed a Citrix environment with WISE engineering tools that IDIQ contractors and mapping partners could use to develop engineering data
May 2005 Provides the DFIRM tools in a Citrix environment so that IDIQ contractors and mapping partners can make DFIRMs more efficiently. These DFIRM tools support FEMA’s goal of reducing the time and effort necessary to create DFIRMs. The DFIRM tools also support Map Modernization goals by providing a solid foundation on which to build flood maps.
WH
AT
IS P
LAN
NE
D F
OR
TH
E M
IP? Release 2.1.2 Will include a DFIRM metadata tool and add the ability to export the DFIRM database
deliverables and produce the required raster formats for delivery to the Map Service Center.
Release 2.2 Will provide a management workflow tool for tracking and reporting study, revision, and amendment project data. In order to create this release, FEMA and its partners documented end-to-end workflow for making and maintaining flood maps. This release will make it easier for IDIQ contractors and mapping partners to forecast their workload and for FEMA, contractors, and mapping partners to report their successes.
Release 3 Will add the integration of some tools with the Release 2.2 workflow steps and streamline the ability to capture and retrieve engineering and mapping data. This release will also include the automation of simple LOMA processing through the eLOMA application.
The staged delivery of the MIP began last year, when the MIP went “live,” and is continuing this year. Above is a summary of current and planned MIP functionality.
Page 4
As the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) National Conference nears, we will run a weekly article with upcoming deadlines.
Remember that all MOD team presentations are due to Lisa Messano ([email protected]) by today, May 25. To make the quality assurance process easier, remember to use the January 2005 MOD Team Style Guide (available at SharePoint>News and Reference
Materials>Templates) and the ASFPM 2005 PowerPoint slide template (also available at SharePoint>News and Reference Materials>Templates). All Baker presentations are due to Tom George ([email protected]) by June 8.
Also, each presenter should bring his/her presentation on CD or memory stick to the conference.
Source: Lisa Messano (703) 960-8800 ext. 3048
ASFPM Countdown
Did You Know?Tom George, Technical Manager, maintains a “Did You Know?” bulletin board outside his office on the southeast
side of the 5th floor where he posts useful Map Mod-related Engineering and Mapping information. If you come across an interesting article or tidbit, let Tom know at [email protected].
Currently, the board includes the following items:
· Guidance on using the term “multi-hazard” · The meaning of “subsidized” flood insurance · DHS’s departments and agencies · NFIP acts, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. · The 20,000th NFIP community: Elba, NE · Tsunami wave velocities · National Hurricane Preparedness Week
Source: Tom George (703) 317-3087
As a security measure, Internet access in each Alexandria conference room has been deactivated. However, if you need access for a presentation or a meeting, please let Digital Services know at least 30 minutes before your
meeting and they will reactive it. Please let Ditigal Services know when your meeting is over so they can deactivate the port.
Source: Digital Services (703) 960-8800, ext. 3078
Conference Room Internet Use Limited for Security Purposes
Many of our stakeholders’ comments on the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) included suggestions that FEMA extend the funding and duration of Map Modernization. FEMA is working with internal staff to determine how to appropriately address these comments in a public document, and is planning more extensive reviews of the MHIP before release. Therefore, the release is now anticipated for mid-June.
Headquarters will provide copies to the Regions and RMCs in early June, with release on the Web expected the week after the Association of State Floodplain Managers conference. A limited number of copies of the document are expected to be available at the conference for interested parties to review.
Source: Tracy Cain (703) 317-3083
Spring MHIP Release Expected Mid-June
Last Friday, FEMA accepted the MIP Release 2.1.2 Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) tools, completing the release of all the planned DFIRM tools. The suite of tools automates much of the DFIRM production process according to FEMA’s requirements, saving mapping partners time and money.
The new tools allow users to export the DFIRM database deliverable formats, to export the Flood Insurance Rate
Map raster deliverable formats, and to create the DFIRM metadata file – automating the final steps in the life cycle of a DFIRM. The two new DFIRM tools are Database Exporter and DFIRM Metadata Builder. The Map Production Pro tool has enhanced capabilities, which includes Export to Image and Create PGW Word File.
Source: Scott Beumer (703) 960-8800, ext. 6270
Full Suite of DFIRM Tools Now Available
