Flood Event Data Capture using out-of-the-box ESRI software

Karen Pinkerton & Kirsty Jackkaren.pinkerton@sepa.org.uk, kirsty.jack@sepa.org.uk

Why does SEPA need flood event data?

Flood hazard and risk mapping (section 21)

National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) reporting significant events to EEC and

EU Floods directive(section 9)

Flood warning activities (section 74)

Planning advice (section 72)

FRM Strategies (section 27)

Why does SEPA need flood event data?

What is observed flood event data?

Improving data capture, management & use

Data Capture: The Problem

The solution - FEDCAP

FEDCAP – A tool for Flood Event Data CAPtureutilising ArcGIS Online and the ESRI Collector App for the winter trial

Free* Flexible Secure Simple!

The solution - FEDCAP

Methodology•Create two feature classes, add domains

•Create a map and adjust symbology to suit

•Publish to ArcGIS Online

•Set up permissions and share

•Choose a suitable basemap

•Download offline map

•Capture data

•Sync data

FEDCAP Winter Trial

Winter trial environment – record breaking!•Wettest December on record in Scotland•Over 200% of average rainfall fell in NE•50/400 river gauges in Scotland experienced record peak flows•Multiple flooding events, widespread over Scotland•Over 1000 properties flooded across Scotland

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/2016/winter http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/warmest-wettest-november-january-record

FEDCAP Winter Trial

FEDCAP Winter Trial

Comparison with traditional methods Data quality• Georeferenced photographs

• Could “georeference” videos

• High resolution camera on iPad

• Focused information captured for specific point

• More information available in the field

• Too many fields to fill in for all features

• Recorded• 313 point features• 620 photographs/videos• 68 line features (trashlines/routes)

FEDCAP Winter Trial

Comparison with traditional methods Time saved• Seconds to log in and load up

• Takes a few minutes to capture

• Slightly longer in the field than a camera

• Reduces survey time by half compared with GPS

• Reduces processing time by days

• Easy to share data without hardware

FEDCAP Winter Trial

Comparison with traditional methods Survey accuracy• <10cm difference after re-projection

• Less detail as no elevation is captured

Winter trial achieveda strong correlation between surveyed data and data captured via the solution

a reduction in the time spent processing data

an increase in the quantity of data received in the immediate aftermath of a flood

an improvement in the quality and consistency of data received in the aftermath of a flood event

positive response from SEPA and Local Authority staff

FEDCAP Winter Trial

What’s next?

Future development•Continue trial period

•Simpler form as many fields were not applicable to task

•Add more information to FEDCAP e.g. specific SEPA basemaps

•Improve processes for increased consistency when capturing data e.g. side of trash line

•Improve post processing script to become fully automated

FEDCAP Winter Trial

In summary the trial of the ESRI Collector App has•Improved data quantity and quality, providing great business benefit

•Enabled the access of more information in the field

•Saved time in capture and processing to attain useable information

•Secure way to share with internal and external sources with quick interpretation

•Simple to set up, use and modify

•Lots of scope to improve further and adapt for other purposes

Thank you for listening!

Some FEDCAP users.

Testimonials

Very good tool for capturing trash lines and also georeferenced photos - much more meaningful than previous methods of just taking photos and will be able to use to go back and get full survey easily. LW

It is a great advantage to download data in GIS format very quickly. WC.

The Collector app is easy to use to take photos and comments. Offline data capture worked well. DM.

Good and what we should have had years ago (always been asking for a GPS camera)! RH.

Great to have Collector app automatically adjust to the device and platform without additional coding required. KP.

Will not replace full survey but great as a first look coarse data capture. EB.

Any questions at this time?Email: karen.pinkerton@sepa.org.uk

Email: kirsty.jack@sepa.org.uk