Tampa, Fla., April 28, 2006—The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) announced today that Guilford County Public Health Preparedness Team of North Carolina (GCPHPT) was named the recipient of a 2006 GITA Innovator Award. The award recognizes the unique and significant contributions of organizations that have used geospatial technology in the innovative development of a technology, service, or application. The award was presented during GITA’s Annual Conference 29, held April 23-26, 2006, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. 

GCPHPT accepted the award for their Rapid Response Project (RRP) in which they use mobile GIS to enhance rapid needs assessments after natural disasters.The RRP builds upon CDC methodology for conducting a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) after natural disasters such as hurricanes.  

The RRP methodology uses ESRI's ArcMap to randomly select census block groups within a hurricane assessment area, and then further randomize points within each block group polygon. The random points are exported onto a handheld computer equipped with ArcPad, ArcPad Streetmap, customized forms, and a GPS unit. Survey teams can be routed directly to selected households to be surveyed. When teams arrive at survey households, the RNA survey form is opened by tapping on the GPS button.

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