Bundaberg Emergency Flood Response
Overview
Australia experiences natural disasters every year with Bundaberg, Queensland enduring an extreme weather event that delivered unprecedented flooding across the region. Reliable spatial data is critical to support the protection of life and property, as well as developing strong partnerships between response teams, government agencies and consultants.
Situation
Capturing Queensland’s aerial imagery proved challenging amidst a cyclone’s aftermath, however providing an enhanced visual record quickly and efficiently was required. We also needed a quality, accurate product to enable mapping and support usability over time.
Action
By deploying a large format Digital Mapping Camera (DMC), AAM captured the floods in high-resolution imagery. The air crew’s the ability to adapt to changing conditions was crucial to its success.. Around-the-clock processing and streamlined workflows ensured a super-fast two-day turnaround was possible.
AAM then delivered the data via OGC Web Mapping Tiling Services (WMTS). This provided an open interface making it easily scalable to a large number of users with the ability to rapidly generate maps. Data was then integrated with various websites and GIS solutions used by various departments involved in the response and recovery process.
Result
Emergency Management Queensland closely monitored ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald as it approached Bundaberg. AAM immediately arrange for an aircraft to be on standby at the nearest available airport. The Total Operational Mapping (TOM) system provides a vital tool used across all levels of the response teams. Real time events are recorded from photos with flood damage reports gathered by QFRS and Queensland Reconstruction Authority field staff. TOM is based on the VertiGIS Studio software by Latitude Geographics and supported by AAM across Australia.
The TOM solution is now dynamically available to all Department of Community Safety staff.