Geospatial Mapping Project
Training Manual
Geospatial Research and Applications Center (GRAC)
EDA Funded Project (Grant# G004824)
Geospatial Mapping Project Training Manual
Page 1
Table of Contents
Summary of Project, Goals, and Purposes………………………………………………3
What is a recovery Team?
Infrastructure………………………………………………………………………………………...4
Utility Reference Guide
Recovery Preparation…………………………………………………………………………..11
Recovery Priorities
General Tips
Individual Preparation
Coping with the Disaster
Recovering a Data Point………………………………………………………………………14
Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………………18
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Summary of Project, Goals, and Purpose
The Geospatial Project is designed to aid coastal communities in the
recovery effort after natural disasters. The project utilizes Geospatial
Information Systems (GIS) and Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) to map
out various infrastructures around coastal communities. The maps will aid
disaster relief teams and utility companies in the recovery effort.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, impact coastal communities every
year in the southeast region of the United States. The storms inflict millions of
dollars of damage to the infrastructure and local community. Due to
uncoordinated recovery efforts, 50% or more of the damage inflicted on
utilities occurs during the clean-up effort.
After a hurricane, infrastructure can be completely covered up by sand and
debris. During the clean up, there is no coordinated effort between the
different utility companies. Our project is in place to provide a coordinated
plan for the companies involved in the cleanup. By utilizing GPS technology,
our team has mapped the critical infrastructure points along the coast. With
this data, we are able to produce coordinated manuals for the disaster relief
teams. The teams will be responsible for proactively marking the critical
infrastructure before the utility companies begin the clean up.
What is a Recovery Team?
The role of the recovery team is to properly mark and identify the
points of critical infrastructure immediately following a disaster. The teams
will be aided with GPS and GIS technology as well as detailed maps of the area.
It will be vital for the recovery teams to act swiftly in order to locate and mark
each point of interest. Once the points are marked, the utility companies will
be able to avoid damaging critical points. The overall effort of the recovery
teams will save time and money for the coastal community.
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Infrastructure
The following pages contain many of the infrastructure items that will be
points in your unit. The different items will be broken down by utility type.
Each utility has a color that identifies it in the field. The color of each table
distinguishes that utilities field color. The tables contain many different
infrastructure items. However, all the items contained in these tables may not
be of interest to your team. Make sure to check with your team leader to
identify the critical points for your team.
Keep in mind that the infrastructure may be buried, and may not be visible.
That does not mean it is not there. Even if the infrastructure point is not
visible, make sure to make the point.
Utility Reference Guide
Water and Storm Water Utilities
Infrastructure
Fire Hydrant
Description
Picture
an upright hydrant for
drawing water to use in
fighting a fire
Valves
device for controlling the
passage of water through
a pipe
Meters
meter for measuring the
quantity of water passing
through an outlet
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Backflow
Preventer
Fire Department
Connection
protects water supplies
from contamination or
pollution
piping connection through
which the fire
department can pump
water into a standpipe
system or sprinkler
Grate Inlets
opening in the gutter
covered by one or more
grates
Yard Inlets
openings in a yard
covered by a grate
Curb Inlets
vertical openings in the
curb covered by a top slab
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Sewer Utilities
Infrastructure
Description
Manholes
small covered opening
in the pavement to
allow a person to enter
Pump/Lift Stations
point in the sewer
system where the
wastewater needs to be
pumped (lifted) to a
higher elevation
Geospatial Mapping Project Training Manual
Picture
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Gas Utilities
Infrastructure
Description
Valves
device for controlling
the passage of gas
through a pipe
Meters
meter for measuring the
amount of gas flowing
through a particular
pipe
Regulators
Picture
device for controlling
the delivery of gas at
some substantially
constant pressure
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Telecommunications Utilities
Infrastructure
Switching
Station/Cabinet
Description
Picture
An assembly of
switching and control
devices
Pedestal
Elevated containers that
provide easy access to
branch and drop splice
while protecting and
storing loose Cables
Cable/Fiber Box
interface device used in
connecting backbone
cables and distributing
cables
Communications
Manhole
small covered opening
in the pavement to allow
a person to enter
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Electric Utilities
Infrastructure
Electric Poles
Electric Meter
Electric Transformer
Description
pole used to support
overhead power lines
and various other public
utilities and related
equipment such as
transformers and street
lights
Picture
meter for measuring the
amount of electricity
flowing through a
particular pipe
device that transfers
electrical energy from
one circuit to another
through inductively
coupled conductors
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Recovery Preparation
When preparing for the recovery process there are many things that need to
be kept in mind. The following information should be used to help organize
you efforts before the recovery process begins.
Recovery Priorities
Establish Recovery Priorities by utility groups or specific infrastructure items.
Work with government and utility officials to determine the utilities that are
most critical to recovery. After the priorities are established the next step will
be to develop teams.
Recovery Teams:
 Define specific groups, with a minimum of two people per team
 Define one person in each group as a leader that will be responsible for
reporting to the recovery center.
 Each team leader needs to be equipped with the appropriate
communications and transportation equipment for their assignment.
 Each team also needs to be assigned a TopCon Unit.
 Each team will also receive a data point summary sheet. This sheet
contains numbered data points with a description of what utilities are in
the corresponding data point.
 Set geographic areas that and assign teams. Because the infrastructure
is generally along roads, setting specific roads or block for each team is
an easy way to segment the geography.
General Tips
 Do not enter any buildings until the area is declared to be safe by local
officials.
 If you must move debris, wear glove and be cautious when moving
items.
 Be wary of wildlife and other animals
Individual Preparation
Recovery Dress:
Each person involved with the recovery needs to wear a vest that identifies
their participation in the recovery. In addition all person need to wear pants
and closed-toe shoes.
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Personal Needs:
In addition to the recovery uniform it is suggested that each team member
carry a bag or backpack with the following items:
 Water-One bottle for every 1.5 hours of expected field time
 Sunscreen
 Hat and sunglasses
 Work Gloves
 Granola bars, or similar snack foods
Health
 Be aware of exhaustion and dehydration. Don’t try to do too much at
once. Set priorities and pace yourself. Get enough rest.
 Drink plenty of clean water and Eat well.
Safety Concerns
 Be aware of new safety issues created by the disaster. Watch for washed
out roads, contaminated buildings, contaminated water, gas leaks,
broken glass, damaged electrical wiring, and slippery surfaces.
Coping with the Disaster
During the recover the emotional toll that disasters bring can sometimes be
even more devastating than damage.
Understand Disaster Events
 Everyone who sees or experiences a disaster is affected by it in some
way.
 It is normal to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your
family and close friends.
 Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal
event.
 Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover.
 Focusing on your strengths and abilities helps you heal.
Recognize Signs of Disaster Related Stress
If you have the following signs, you might need crisis counseling or stress
management assistance:
 Difficulty communicating thoughts
 Difficulty maintaining balance in their lives
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Low threshold of frustration
Poor work performance
Headaches/stomach problems
Tunnel vision/muffled hearing
Colds or flu-like symptoms
Disorientation or confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Reluctance to leave home
Depression, sadness
Overwhelming guilt and self-doubt
Easing Disaster-Related Stress
 Talk with someone about your feelings - anger, sorrow, and other
emotions - even though it may be difficult.
 Seek help from professional counselors who deal with post-disaster
stress.
 Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by
healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, and meditation.
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Recovering a Data Point
Your GPS TopCon device will come pre-programmed with the data points your team is to
recover. The data points will be confined to a small geographic location, together with a
map this data will help you locate to find the data point.
Getting to know your TopCon GPS Unit:
GPS Attenna
Stylus
Sun-light Readable Screen
Power Button
Enter Button
Step 1: Power on Your
Device.
Press and hold the power button till the screen turns on.
Press Here.
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Step 2: Load the TopSURV Software
Double-Click on the
TopSURV shortcut using
the stylus.
Step 3: Select your Data Point Package.
This information will be give to you when you give receive your GPS unit. The
names pictured here will NOT be the same!
Select the Data Point file
name give to when you
received your GPS.
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Step 4: Find a point.
Distance to your next point and direction.
***The arrow only gives the correct direction if you
are moving!***
Next Point
The center of the circle turns to a red target when
you get close to your data point. The closer the black
plus sign is to the target the closer you are to the
data point.
Point Number. This should match your data point
sheet given to you with your GPS. Reference this
number with the data sheet to find what utilities are
at your current location.
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Step 5: Place flags.
Use the provided data sheet to reference the current point number and place
flags according to the data sheet.
Water
Electrical
Communication
Gas
Sewer
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Training Notes:
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