2024 SAG Award Winners

University of Vermont

Project Goal

The University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab responded to the Great Vermont Flood of July 2023 using Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS), quick thinking, and longstanding partnerships with state agencies to speed up funding recovery efforts. “Within hours of the floods, there were boots on the ground, Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) were in the air, and GIS tools—such as ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Instant Apps (including the Sidebar template), and Site Scan for ArcGIS—were being used to collect and process mapping data and imagery so it could be easily shared.” With the rapid response effort, the UVM SAL was able to speed up recovery funds for those impacted by the flooding by four weeks compared to having to wait for on the ground damage assessments.
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Business Problem Solved

Over two days in early July, Vermont and other parts of the Northeast received more total rain than usually falls in two summer months. Falling on already saturated ground, this precipitation went quickly into waterways. When those waterways reached capacity, floodwaters spread across low-lying farmland, residential neighborhoods, and commercial and downtown areas. Many culverts, roadways and bridges were washed out. Vermonters awoke on July 11 to find themselves in a changed state, challenged by the effects of a second “hundred-year storm” to hit in the last 12 years. Critical and timely information was needed to inform first responders at the local, state, and federal levels about current conditions and the extent of impacted areas. Additionally, rapidly documenting peak flooding conditions would expediate the release of recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who would otherwise have to send in damage inspectors once the waters receded.

Technology Implemented

ArcGIS online web maps, ArcGIS Instant Apps, and Site Scan were crucial to provide the data collected by UAS to first responders, FEMA, and the public in collaboration with the Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI)

Development Team Biography

The SAL is currently led by Acting Director, Dr. Paige Brochu.
Key project personnel (for biographies, see https://site.uvm.edu/sal/):
Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Director (deceased)
Adam Zylka, UAS Team Lead
Anna Royar, Technical Lead
Kelly Schulze, Project Manager & UAS Specialist
Maddy Zimmerman, UAS Specialist
Spencer Karins, Geospatial Technician
Lauren Cresanti, UAS Technician
Benny Berkenkotter, UAS Technician
Ernie Buford, Geospatial Systems Lead
Terry Barrett, Geospatial Developer
Technicians and Apprentices: Nolan Morrow, Michael Leisten, Maeve Naumann, Daniel Jarrad, Bennett Courteville, Murphy Peisel, Eli Stein, Brianna Heller, Eli Standard, Ellis Addleman