GeoModelerGeoModeler –– Linking of GIS Linking of GIS and Models as a Data and Models as a Data

Integration Tool for PRIDEIntegration Tool for PRIDE((moving past visualization into analysis)moving past visualization into analysis)

PRIDE PI MeetingEast West Center October 16, 2007

Tiffany C. Vance NOAA/NMFS/AFSC

Nazila Merati NOAA/PMEL/NCTR

Christopher Moore NOAA/PMEL/NCTR

National Center for Tsunami National Center for Tsunami Research (NCTR)Research (NCTR)

• Designs and develops tsunami detection devices and build monitoring systems

• Provides research, development and implementation of numerical models for tsunami operational forecasts and warnings

• Conducts research and development to improve methods of calculating tsunami impacts on populations and coastal communities

Current NCTR GIS activitiesCurrent NCTR GIS activities

• Buoy siting and optimization studies• Static briefing maps • Atlas for data dissemination and

management• Standalone tools for visualization and

data modeling• Short Term Inundation Forecast tools

(SIFT)

GeoModelerGeoModeler Tsunami GIS goalsTsunami GIS goals

• Demonstrate how scientific models and GIS can be integrated more closely in order to model tsunami events and their effects

• Build stand alone application that does not require ArcGIS or the web for deployment

• Application will run geoprocessing events on tsunami model outputs for emergency preparedness analysis and planning

Everyone already uses GIS, why is Everyone already uses GIS, why is this such a big deal?this such a big deal?

• Models are not easily integrated into GIS• Data and models do not operate

independently of each other, no matter how it appears

• Model data formats are hard to integrate into GIS – irregular grids, many time steps, multiple variables within one run

• Often requires glue or bridge to integrate modeling inputs into GIS or just brute force

Integrating data sourcesIntegrating data sources

• GIS information includes– Basemap data– Road networks

• evacuation routes

– Census Data– Emergency

Services

Model integrationModel integration

• Application uses pre-processed MOST model results

• Prototype for Tsunami GIS is based on Geomodeler using Geotools and VTK (Vance AMS 2007)

• Eclipse JDT and ArcEngine JAVA for development

Tsunami GIS outputTsunami GIS output• Pan, zoom, and

identify features• Chose a source

region and magnitude then run the scenario

• Resulting map shows areas affected

• Information window gives total population affected including elderly and at risk

• Can be used for emergency responders during real time or for scenario planning

Visualization for emergency Visualization for emergency managersmanagers

• Visualization is not just static maps and reports

• 3D output from model can be integrated with GIS layers to provide emergency managers useful tools for analysis and display

• Integration and output to Google Earth is possibleSeaside Oregon 3D View

Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Direct read in netCDF has made model integration into ArcGIS much easier

• Visualization of the model process using model-builder and customization with python makes GIS-wary modelers more comfortable using GIS for visualization and analysis

• Integration of OpenDAP and other web services to add data adds functionality for tsunami or any other modeling to GIS application

Challenges encounteredChallenges encountered

• Data integration, not all netCDF is standard• Getting modelers to use a new application is

challenging, using off the shell application is even more of a challenge

• Data granularity – fine scale of census data versus modeling the entire Pacific basis

• Adapting to rapidly developing technologies e.g. Google Earth

• Integrating social science into science

Future applications/opportunitiesFuture applications/opportunities

• Better integration with NCTR desktop inundation modeling tools

• Integration with PRIDE funded Seaside, Or. Vulnerability Study

• Expanding tools for use with other types of inundation models (e.g. storm surge models)

• Improved 3-D visualization

Additional informationAdditional informationFor more information on tsunami research efforts and

modeling, please visit the NCTR site at http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov

For more information on GIS products and tsunami modeling, please contact Nazila Merati at

nazila.merati@noaa.gov

For more information on integration of GIS and models, please contact Tiffany Vance at

tiffany.c.vance@noaa.gov

PRIDE in the PRIDE in the PribilofsPribilofs