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FEATURED CASE STUDY

Sille

DATEL OVELA

Screenshot of the SILLE web application with a graph modal

PRODUCT

Sille

Public access using login: fema@sille.space Password: Planahead2019

Go To Product

TECH TEAM

Datel Ovela

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Using Geospatial Data to Help People Prepare for Disasters

AGENCY

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

HOW TOP HELPED

The TOP network extends beyond Demo Day — with their new connections, Ovela continues to work with FEMA in Puerto Rico and New York to expand their product.

DATASETS USED

  • Census block data
  • Open EU sentinel 1 InSAR

Disaster Preparedness Using Geospatial Data

SILLE helps leaders prepare for crisis by identifying whether local infrastructure is at risk of catastrophic failure.

Younger and minority populations are less likely to have an emergency plan.

Personal and family preparedness can greatly impact the ability that individuals and communities have to successfully and rapidly recover from a disaster. However, in the 2016 National Household Preparedness Survey, only 45% of respondents reported having a household emergency plan. Additionally, people who consider preparedness part of everyday life tend to be 65 years of age or older, white and male, while people who intend to prepare but have yet to get started tend to be 45 years of age or younger, black or Hispanic, and have children.

A satellite in space

The Opportunity Project brought together tech teams, policy and data experts, and community groups to build products using geospatial data to help all people prepare for disasters.

Over 50 participants joined the 2018 Geospatial sprint in different roles. Each role contributed a different set of knowledge and skills that can help create better-informed digital products like Sille. Built by Ovela and informed by multiple product and data experts, Sille uses satellite data and Census block data so stakeholders can understand when a vulnerable structure, like a bridge or a building, has shifted and therefore might be more susceptible to failure or collapse in a disaster. This allows for first responders to prepare and target specific areas where they can target their emergency response to during or after a natural disaster.

Today, Ovela’s connections from TOP have turned into a lasting partnership.

Datel Ovela has continued its partnership with FEMA and is testing the use of this product in New York City for earthquake response and in Miami for flooding.