Using Mobile-Based Surveys For Storm Damage Assessment

When a series of storms rolled through Harrison County, West Virginia, one Sunday evening, it left substantial wind damage in its wake. As the storms battered his region, Paul Bump, director of Harrison County Emergency Services, started contemplating a plan of action.

“On Monday morning, when I arrived at work, I began working with Survey123 for ArcGIS,” Bump said.

Survey123 for ArcGIS is a simple and intuitive formcentric data gathering solution that enables users to create, share, and analyze surveys. The app, which is included with ArcGIS Online, is designed to replace paper-based data collection. It’s available for smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers, and it works even when disconnected from the Internet.

“In about an hour and a half, I was comfortable enough with a survey I’d written to begin mapping the storm,” Bump said. “We hit the road to capture both locations and photos of some of the damage.”