Abstract

ArcGIS Network Analyst Identifies Emergency and Evacuation Safe Routes
Track: Disaster and Emergency Management
Authors: Rell Fowler

Pape-Dawson Engineers, as part of the Wilson County Watershed Master Plan project for the San Antonio River Authority, has performed a Network Analyst Analysis using ESRI's ArcGIS Network Analyst Extension, to identify emergency and evacuation safe routes during large flooding events. During large storm events, a significant number of Wilson County roadways are overtopped by floodwaters at the roadway/creek crossings. Consequently, exit routes for numerous neighborhoods and subdivisions are blocked and alternate routes are few or non-existent. The need to upgrade numerous roadway/creek crossings has become apparent by the hydraulic flood modeling work performed as part of the same project. Since County funds are limited, and roadway crossing improvements are expensive, the Watershed Master Plan will identify specific crossings that need to be upgraded. The identified safe routes will allow Wilson County residents to evacuate, and emergency responders to access certain areas, during large storm events.