Flood Damage Assessments Using Spatial Data Management Techniques

"The Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center has developed techniques that perform the spatial data analysis approach and individual structure approach and work is near completion on an integrated analysis package. The capability therefore exists to perform damage appraisals in a manner that encourages a general geographic and land use approach (thus greatly facilitating the study of nonstructural measures) while preserving the ability to analyze individual, unique structures should the need arise. This paper discusses the basic concepts of a spatial data management approach to damage appraisals and highlight(s) its integrated use with more traditional individual structure approaches. Selected example results are presented"--Page 2

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using spatial data management techniques in studies that are structured in a manner that requires spatial data management techniques to play a central and dominant role. The Corps of Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) provided the basic developmental work on the spatial data management and attendant processing techniques and it is continuing in the role of the basic technology transfer agent. The significant efforts required to document, maintain and service the technology and provide ready consultation service reported herein were planned for during the developmental efforts and are currently being centrally managed to encourage smooth adoption of the techniques by Corps field offices. (Author).