November 14, 2011
Redlands, California—Esri and its distributor, Esri (Thailand) Co. Ltd., are assisting government agencies and emergency management professionals involved in the Thailand flooding disaster response. As part of the support, Esri has activated its disaster response team. The disaster team is providing software, services, and industry expertise. Esri is also supporting the response organizations with application development, data, and technical support.
"We've been working closely with Esri Thailand, which is fully engaged in this terrible event," says Russ Johnson, director of public safety solutions for Esri. "The Thailand government and many others are working around the clock to minimize the flooding impacts and save lives."
Esri solutions and services enable officials to capture, integrate, analyze, and share information from multiple sources. This supports rapid, effective decision making at many levels. First responders, emergency managers, and others can conduct rescue operations; protect critical infrastructure; evacuate areas; identify medical needs; classify severely damaged buildings; deliver vital food, water, and supplies; and prioritize recovery.
Esri Thailand is also helping government officials more accurately locate calls and reports, as well as optimize the routing of emergency services and the delivery of goods. This work and improved data collection will help with the response and recovery efforts, which will take years to complete.
Esri's services and application development support for emergency response efforts include a social media web application available for both the media and the public. People can follow events in near real time using the map application to gain a greater understanding of the situation. The application includes links to news reports as well as Tweets, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, and reports from Ushahidi. It also gives people the ability to view streets, satellite imagery, and topographic maps as part of its map overlay capabilities. People can also request assistance and access additional resources from the online application.
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Press Information:
Jesse Theodore, Esri
Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-1419
E-mail (press only): press@esri.com
General Information: info@esri.com
