Project Background and Objectives

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains a repository of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that are used by insurance companies and the general public to determine the flood insurance rates for properties in any chosen geographic area. FEMA distributed these maps by means of a manual catalog ordering and printing process. FEMA personnel processed and printed orders and customers had to await mail receipt of the maps.

FEMA had the vision to implement a system to deliver these products online via the web. The problem was resolved with a solution that includes a seamless integration of IBM WebSphere (E-Commerce), ESRI ArcIMS (Geo-Locator), and IDEAL IntraNETIX Enterprise for Unix (Map Viewing and Printing, Document Delivery).

Contract Work, Scope, and Deliverables

IDEAL and Michael Baker Corporation teamed to deliver a solution that met and exceeded FEMA's criteria. The entire inventory of over 100,000 large format FIRM maps and thousands of letter size flood study volumes were scanned in using an Oce TDS-800 large format digital reprographic system at the FEMA Map Service Center. The Map Service Center also uses the TDS-800 to deliver ordered paper products and they also produce CD-ROMs for mail orders.

IBM WebSphere is utilized for the E-Commerce front end of the FEMA Flood Map Store web site. People come online and locate maps via catalog search or perform a map search using ArcIMS geospatial software from ESRI. The user gets a result back with a list of matching documents. They can immediately view and print documents using IDEAL's IntraNETIX software prior to placing an order. IntraNETIX employs thin client technology, which allows customers to view and print the maps they need without downloading them. IntraNETIX also manages the ordered documents in an area called "MSC-Digital Post Office" where the user can download their purchased documents at their convenience. IDEAL customized IntraNETIX to enable selection and printing of map FIRMettes (small portions of a larger map with insets of scale, north arrow, and title block) on the fly. This is a unique web application that allows customers to move and adjust area objects overlaid on top of a map using an interface that the user can zoom and pan. FEMA allows customers and the general public to create these FIRMettes free of charge.

In addition, IDEAL customized the appearance of IntraNETIX to match the FEMA web site and provided additional PDF viewing and output capabilities. IDEAL trained the MSC personnel and provides ongoing technical support and adds additional features as requested by FEMA.

Combined with an e-commerce capability, the IntraNETIX-based FEMA Flood Map Store frees FEMA personnel and speeds maps to customers. The FEMA Map Store application currently serves out thousands of digital product requests to customers every day, 24/7. It can be found at the FEMA Flood Map Store.

The IntraNETIX Digital Post Office Application

The IntraNETIX Viewer and FIRMette creation module

A final FIRMette delivered to the customer

Experience Summary

• Project Management
• Systems Analysis
• Software Customization
• Programming
• Technical Support
• Training