GIS 5100: Module 5: Damage Assessment

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This week in Module 5 we are introduced to damage assessment for Hurricane Sandy from 2012. During this task we first created a map of the storm to track its path and intensity. Next, we created a survey for the public use to report any storm damage. 


To jumpstart this assessment we used ariel imagery of pre-storm and post-storm photos of the selected study area. After uploading pre and post-imagery I used the swipe tool for easy assessment of structural damages. I was looking for major changes in buildings, erosion (sand) and inundation. I could see where was sand pushed into homes on post-imagery, so I kept that in mind while making the judgement for identifying structural damage. The most difficult decisions I had were how to categorize the wind damage with the structural damage. I decided to base my judgement on properties being closest to the coast and how storm surge + wind would affect those properties differently than inland properties. If there was more information to help make this analysis more useful would be to learn how to run geoprocessing tools to break down what areas had the most damage, highest wind speed, and highest peak storm surge. I think those tools would be a useful to add to this lesson to learn about and fulfilling to see the data feedback.  


To achieve this damage assessment, I used three steps to find the data in the chart below. The first step was following the directions in the assignment summary by creating a polyline on the coastline. After a few attempts I realized that depending where you lie the coastline polyline the buffer results can vary. My final attempt was felt most fitting, so I decided to keep that run. Next, I then did a multiple ring buffer with an input of the coastline polyline and distances of 100m, 200m, and 300m, then run. After running this tool, I was able to see on my map where and what structures could be found inside each buffer ring. Last, I did a spatial join to bring buffer data, and the structural data together so I could use the attribute table from the spatial join to collect and compare my results for the chart above. 



Buffer zones for 100m, 200m, 300m form coast:

Final results from spatial join attribute table:

Structure Damage Category

Count of Structures

0-100 m from coastline

Count of Structures

100-200 m from coastline

Count of Structures

200-300 m from coastline

 

 

 

 

No Damage

0

0

0

Affected

0

0

1

Minor Damage

0

1

25

Major Damage

0

20

6

Destroyed

2

15

1

Totals

2

36

33











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