Event-based Flood Data Collection and Dissemination

The USGS Flood Event Viewer and Short-Term Network database

Coastal GeoTools 2017 | February 8th, 2017
Presented by Blake Draper, Software Developer
USGS Web Informatics and Mapping (WiM)

Short-Term Network (STN)

What is it?

• a system for collection, management and dissemination of USGS flood data

• a network of sites where sensors are deployed

FEV is the public data viewing tool for the STN database

Short-Term Network (STN)

What's with the name?

• short-term, temporary data sensors

• supplements USGS long-term station network

Short-Term Network (STN)

Why is it needed?

• standardize data collection process

• new repository for historical high-water marks

...has evolved into a suite of products

The Short-Term Network Universe

STNWeb (Internal)

STN Data Portal (Public)

Data access GUI

for casual users

sensor metadata only right now

STN Web Services (Public)

Data access API

for power users and developers

Event-Centrism in FEV

all data gets associated with an event

Water Science Centers and the press want event-focused map

Real-time Data

Real-time Stream Gage
Rapid Deployment Gage

Real-time Stream Gage layer

Rapid deployment gage layer

Observed Data

Sensors

Barometric Pressure
Storm Tide
Meteorological
Wave Height

Surveyed

High-water Mark layer

Interpreted Data

Peak Summary

Peak Summary layer

calculated after the event

interpreted data - based on multiple input

Getting Data

download CSV

get JSON

Technology Stack

service-oriented architecture

Database

Service layer

Client

Success and Publicity

used by USGS storm team on daily coordination calls

tweeted by The Weather Channel's hurricane specialist

Success and Publicity

featured on WJXT News 4 Jax in Jacksonville, FL

Audience

used extensively by USGS personnel

designed with public in mind

Work in progress

still making improvements

UI/UX challenges

multi-event view is a UI challenge

Conclusion

• successful at its critical function
• room for improvement
• must avoid scope creep

Questions