How does GeoFIRM support HAZUS projects and RiskMAP products?
Dewberry has been involved in HAZUS projects and training for many years. GeoFIRM is designed to work seamlessly with HAZUS in providing detailed engineering depth grids for multiple frequencies, user-defined facilities (UDFs) creation, and working with HAZUS depth-damage curves to compute expected annual damages (EAD). With the advent of RiskMAP, GeoFIRM is a platform designed to leverage the traditional flood engineering and mapping products as a base for new and innovative RiskMAP products and processes. As one of the three PTS contractors, Dewberry is intimately involved with FEMA in the vision casting and design of RiskMAP.
Does GeoFIRM support automated H&H tools?
Yes. Dewberry is proud to include decades of engineering modeling experience in GeoFIRM. Dewberry-developed tools are included in GeoFIRM and help automate H&H modeling. Tools are included for hydrology, hydraulics, coastal, floodplain mapping, floodway mapping and others. These GIS tools help engineers analyze and create spatial data. GeoFIRM is designed to interface with industry-leading toolsets, such as ArcHydro, GeoHMS, GeoRAS, etc.
How does GeoFIRM interface with modeling software?
GeoFIRM manages the inputs and outputs of existing standard models. For example, GeoFIRM stores the modeling choices inside the geodatabase, and then writes the geometry files needed to create a HECRAS project. GeoFIRM then runs the HECRAS computational engine automatically, and retrieves the engine results are also written back into the geodatabase and mapped graphically. This means the data is always stored in the geodatabase and the modeler uses ArcGIS during the modeling process.
Can I get a snapshot of the DFIRM database during production?
Yes. One of the core functions of our GeoFIRM tool set is the ability to export a DFIRM-compliant database (in shapefile, ArcInfo, or MapInfo format) at any time, for any study. We can easily create an "in-progress"” version of the geodatabase that can be distributed for review at any point during our production process with just the click of a button.
Can the GeoFIRM environment incorporate community-specific data?
Yes. Our GeoFIRM geodatabase matches DFIRM requirements, with a number of enhancements we have added to support our automation tools. Most spatial data layers can therefore be easily incorporated into our structure, including community-based transportation centerlines and community-based orthophotography. Minor processing of these data sources may be required, but our tools are flexible, and can incorporate data from multiple sources. In addition, we support all common spatial data formats.
