Configure Emergency Debris Management

Emergency Debris Management can be used to expedite initial debris clearance, assess volume, and monitor the removal of disaster debris accumulated on roads, right-of-ways, and public facilities.

In this topic, you will learn how to configure the Emergency Debris Management solution to meet specific needs in your organization.

Load data from a shapefile or file geodatabase

Applications included in the Emergency Debris Management solution can leverage authoritative operational layers for debris management already managed by your organization. Existing GIS layers for debris work areas or routes, debris management sites, debris removal providers, and critical infrastructure can be appended into the corresponding layers within the solution. Review the layers provided with the solution and determine what source data you want to load. Then, load your existing data into the layers provided with the solution before sharing maps or apps.

To load data from a shapefile or file geodatabase, complete the following steps:

1. Create a .zip file of your shapefile or file geodatabase.
2. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Debris Area feature layer.
3. From the item page, click Update Data.
4. Follow the steps in the Update data wizard to load your data.

Tip:

For more information about uploading data, see Manage hosted feature layers—Append data to layers.

5. Optionally, repeat these steps to load data into the Debris Removal Providers and Debris Management Sites layers.

Note:

In order to use the Truck Certification Form, you must first load records in the DebrisRemovalProviders feature layer or create them using the Manage Removal Status app in the Emergency Debris Management Center.

Provision users

The Emergency Debris Management solution enables secure viewing and editing privileges to users based on their roles in the clearance, assessment, and removal workflows. To ensure privileges are appropriate to the needs of each user role, the Emergency Debris Management solution includes several role-specific sharing groups for managers, first responders and clearance field crew supervisors, assessors, monitors, and record reviewers such as contractor administrative staff or FEMA personnel. These groups are pre-configured with the layers, maps, and apps each role needs to perform their functions within the solution.

Add named user accounts to the corresponding groups, by completing the following steps:

1. Sign into your ArcGIS Organization.
2. Click Groups.
3. Search My Groups for Emergency Debris.
4. You will see five groups: Emergency Debris Management, Emergency Debris Monitors, Emergency Debris Record Reviewers, and Emergency Debris Clearance Crews.
5. Click the group you want to invite users to.
6. Click Invite users and add individuals performing that function to the group.

Assign personnel to ArcGIS Workforce

The Emergency Debris Management solution includes an ArcGIS Workforce project used by debris operations leads to assign debris clearance assignments to the supervisors of work crews in the field. Before the solution can be used, the named user accounts of each debris operations lead and work crew supervisors must be added to the Workforce project in the dispatcher and mobile worker roles, respectively.

Assign named users to the corresponding group, by completing the following steps:

1. Sign into your ArcGIS organization.
2. Go to the App Launcher, then click Workforce.
3. Mouse over Debris Clearance Assignments, then click Configure.
4. Click Users.
5. Use the Organization User drop-down list to select a user.
6. Use the Project Role drop-down list to select the role for that user.
7. Click Add User.
8. Repeat this process for each of your field crew supervisors.

Create incident names

Over time you may experience several emergency incidents. Therefore, it will be important to name each incident so you will be able to track the debris assessments and monitoring tickets associated to each incident. The Emergency Debris Management Center app can be used to create incident names.

To create and manage disaster incident names, complete the following steps:

1. Sign into your ArcGIS organization
2. Click on the down arrow next to the Help tab and click Manage Incident Names.
3. Click Download and open the IncidentName csv file on your computer.
4. Add a new incident name in the first field and save the file with the changes.
5. From the item page, click Update Data.
6. Follow the steps in the Update data wizard to load your data.

The new incident name has been added to the list of incidents and will appear on each survey when debris reports are collected.

Modify surveys

The Emergency Debris Management solution includes the Load Ticket and Unload Ticket surveys. To prevent mistakes and ensure data quality, several fields in the surveys can use lookup lists generated from the unique values contained in a field from a separate layer. To complete the setup of this capability in the Load Ticket and Unload Ticket, the surveys must be edited using ArcGIS Survey123 Connect and then republished.

Tip:

The Load Ticket, Unload Ticket and Debris Assessment Form forms are configured to provide address information and will consume credits using the ArcGIS World Geocoding Service. Learn more about credit usage when using the geocoding service.

Update Load Ticket

To improve data quality, several fields in the Load Ticket can be updated with a dynamic list of values based on fields found in other layers. The Truck ID field in the Load Ticket is updated by a lookup list containing the truck IDs of all trucks that have been certified using the Truck Certification Form, which uses the TruckCertification related table in the DebrisRemovalProviders layer. Once a user selects a truck ID, the available values for the truck capacity and removal provider name fields are filtered to correspond to the values entered in the Truck Certification Form for the selected truck ID.

To add dynamic field lookup lists to the Load Ticket, complete the following steps:

1. Install ArcGIS Survey123 Connect.
2. Start ArcGIS Survey123 Connect and sign into your ArcGIS organization.
3. Click Load Ticket.
4. Click Download and OK.
5. Click Load Ticket again.
6. Click XLSForm.
7. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet opens. Click the survey tab.
8. Delete the text in the type column of row 9 (Truck ID Number) and type:
   select_one trucknum

   Note:

   When saving, you may see the following warning message: “Please select yes if you are using a select_one or select_multiple XLS”. Click Yes.

9. Delete the text in the type column of row 10 (Capacity) and type:
   select_one deccap

10. Delete the text in the type column of row 13 (Contractor) and type:
    select_one truckcont

11. Paste the following expression into the appearance column of row 9:
    minimal search("TruckCertification1?url={your clipboard URL}/1","matches","idnum")

12. Paste the following expression into the appearance column of row 10:
    minimal search("TruckCertification2?url={your clipboard URL}/1","matches","capacity","", "idnum",${truckid})

13. Paste the following expression into the appearance column of row 13:
    minimal search("TruckCertification3?url={your clipboard URL}/1","matches","contractor","", "idnum",${truckid})

14. Sign into your ArcGIS organization.
15. Search for and click on for the DebrisRemovalProviders_monitors hosted Feature Layer View.
16. Scroll to the bottom of the Overview page for the DebrisRemovalProviders_monitors item, and in the URL section, click the Copy icon. This copies the layer service URL to your clipboard.
17. In row 9, Replace {your clipboard URL} with the url in your clipboard. Make sure the /1 remains at the end of the URL. Repeat for rows 10 and 13.
18. Save and close the spreadsheet.

    Note:

    When saving, you may see the following warning message: "The appearance value you gave is not one of the standard supported appearance types. If you’re attempting to combine two different appearance types, ensure that they’re separated by a space". Click Yes.

19. In ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, click Publish.

    Note:

    After you click publish, you should see a modal window that says "The survey will be updated without affecting the existing data". If you get a different message or ArcGIS Survey123 Connect has displayed an error prior to clicking the Publish button, you have made an error in editing the XLSForm, and should review steps 5-17 for errors.

20. Click Publish survey.
21. When the publishing is complete, click OK.
22. Click the back button to exit the Load Ticket.

Update Unload Ticket

To improve data quality, the unloading location field in the Unload Ticket can be populated with a dynamic list containing only valid debris management site names found in the DebrisManagementSites layer.

To add a dynamic field lookup list to the Unload Ticket, complete the following steps:

1. Install ArcGIS Survey123 Connect.
2. Start ArcGIS Survey123 Connect and sign into your ArcGIS organization.
3. Click Unload Ticket.
4. Click Download and OK.
5. Click Unload Ticket again.
6. Click XLSForm.
7. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet called Unload Ticket opens. Click the survey tab.
8. Delete the text in the type column of row 17 (Unloading location) and type:
   select_one dmsname

9. Paste the following expression into the appearance column of row 17:
   autocomplete search("DebrisManagementSites?url={your clipboard URL}/0","matches","name")

10. In a browser, sign into your ArcGIS organization.
11. Search for and click on for the DebrisManagementSites_monitors hosted Feature Layer View.
12. Scroll to the bottom of the Overview page for the DebrisManagementSites_monitors item, and in the URL section, click the Copy icon. This copies the service URL for this layer into your clipboard.
13. Return to the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
14. Replace {your clipboard URL} with the url in your clipboard. Make sure the /0 remains at the end of the URL.
15. Save and close the spreadsheet.
16. In ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, click Publish.

    Note:

    After you click publish, you should see a modal window that says “The survey will be updated without affecting the existing data”. If you get a different message or ArcGIS Survey123 Connect has displayed an error prior to clicking the Publish button, you have made an error in editing the XLSForm, and should review steps 5 - 16 for errors.

17. Click Publish survey.
18. When the publishing is complete, click OK.
19. Click the back button to exit the Unload Ticket.

Configure Emergency Debris Management Center

Briefing mobile staff can be challenging, especially during times of an emergency and new tools may be learned quickly during an event. The Emergency Debris Management Center includes an Access Field Apps page that can be used during a briefing to help mobile staff get access to the apps they need by scanning a QR code, and simple instructions on how to get started. Before the page can be used, you must obtain the QR codes for each of your field apps and add them to the page in the Help section of the Emergency Debris Management Center app. Additionally, you can include step-by-step instructions appropriate your organization.

Prepare images

Follow the steps below to locate QR codes to be used in the Emergency Debris Management Center:

1. Verify that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the ArcGIS QuickCapture Designer.
2. Open the Road Debris Reporter project and click share.
3. Click QR Code the right click the QR Code and save the image locally.
4. Close ArcGIS QuickCapture Designer.
5. Open ArcGIS Survey123.
6. Open the Debris Assessment Form.
7. Click Collaborate. Next to Share this survey, click the Show the QR Code button and then, Click to download the QR code image locally.
8. Repeat the above steps 6 and 7 for the Truck Certification Form, Load Ticket and Unload Ticket.
9. Close the ArcGIS Survey123 website.

Update help

For each Survey123 form, Debris Assessment Form, Truck Certification Form, Load Ticket, and Unload Ticket) upcomplete the following steps:

1. Verify that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Emergency Debris Management Center and click Edit.
2. Click Live View in the Experience Builder designer header bar.
3. In the Emergency Debris Management Center app header, click the drop-down arrow next to Help, then click Access Field Apps.
4. Click on the sub- page that corresponds to the QR code you are updating.

   Note:

   The Debris Assessment Form QR code belongs on the Assessment Apps sub-page, while the Load Ticket, Unload Ticket, and Truck Certification Form belong on the Removal Apps sub-page.

5. Click on the image Place QR Code Here.
6. In the properties window for the image widget, click Select an image.
7. Click Upload. Use Windows file explorer to select the QR code you saved earlier.
8. Click the Page button to open the page panel and select the Help page.
9. Use the Body node of the page panel to navigate between each section.
10. To update the text or images select the element in the layout and make the necessary changes. You may choose to copy some of the help documentation into the page and then modify it to fit your organizational needs.
11. Click Save on the Experience Builder designer header bar, then click Publish.

Share items with the public

The Emergency Debris Management solution includes Debris Removal Services, an app used by the public to understand the debris removal schedule for their area or route, who to contact, what to do, and where to drop off debris. In order to make this app accessible to the public, the app and its associated map and layers must be shared publicly.

1. Sign into your ArcGIS Organization and browse to the Debris Removal Services app.
2. Open the item page and click Share.
3. In the Share window, click Everyone (public) and click Save.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to share the following items with everyone:

Item	Name
Web Map	Debris Removal Services
Feature Layer (hosted, view)	DebrisAreas_public
Feature Layer (hosted, view)	DebrisRoutes_public
Feature Layer (hosted, view)	DebrisManagementSites_public

Use work routes instead of areas (optional)

Organizations managing emergency debris assign assessors and removal providers to perform their work (and track their status) using polygon-based work areas. Typically, these work areas correspond to existing daily operational boundaries; for example, garbage pickup areas. Instead of areas, other organizations assign work using line-based routes, for example, snowplow routes. The Emergency Debris Management solution is configured by default to support polygon-based work areas using the DebrisAreas feature layer.

Optionally, the default solution configuration using polygon work areas may be reconfigured to use DebrisRoutes, a line-based feature layer included in the solution for using line-based work routes.

To replace the DebrisAreas layer with the DebrisRoutes layer, complete the following steps:

1. Sign into your ArcGIS organization.
2. Browse to the Manage Assessment Status web map and click Open in Map Viewer Classic.
3. Go to the Content pane. Check Debris Routes and Uncheck Debris Areas.
4. Click Save.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the following web maps:
   • Debris Assessments Dashboard
   • Debris Assessment Form
   • Manage Removal Status
   • Debris Removal Dashboard
   • Debris Removal Services

     Note:

     In the above web maps, the DebrisRoutes layer already contains identical pop-up and symbology to the DebrisAreas layer, so no further layer configuration is required.

6. In the Debris Assessments Dashboard, reconfigure the following dashboard elements to point to the Debris Routes layer:
   • Assessment area by status
   • Assessment area list
   • Areas Fully Assessed
7. In the Debris Removal Dashboard, reconfigure the following dashboard elements to point to the Debris Routes layer:
   • Removal area by status
   • Removal area list
   • Removal areas completed

     Note:

     When re-configuring dashboard elements, consider opening the dashboard edit mode in two separate browser windows so you can refer to the original element settings as you reconfigure.

8. Browse to the Debris Removal Services app and click Configure App.
9. Click Interactivity.
10. Click Results.
11. Uncheck Debris removal service areas. Check Debris removal service routes.
12. Click Back, then click Text Results.
13. Click Edit for Text above results section. Change removal service areas to removal service routes.
14. Click About.
15. Click Edit for Edit Introduction Panel. Change both instances of service area to service route.
16. Click OK, then click Publish, and Confirm.

Note:

The Debris Removal Services app will display all routes within the app’s specified search distance, not just the nearest route to the selected location.

Configure directions (optional)

Optionally, you can configure the Debris Removal Services app to provide directions to the nearest debris drop-off site.

This configuration draws routes and provides directions using the ArcGIS Online World Route Service. This service requires authorization to consume premium content as it consumes credits. Learn more about credit usage when creating simple routes.

Follow the steps below to connect to a routing service and configure the app to enable directions.

1. Sign into your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Debris Removal Services app.
2. From the item page, click Configure.

   Close the Welcome to the App Setup Page splash page, if necessary.

3. Click Nearby > Options and turn on the Show directions toggle button.
4. Check the check box next to the Debris drop-off sites layer.
5. Click Publish.
6. Click Confirm.

   The Authorize premium content window appears with information related to authorization.

7. Click Authorize.
8. Click Launch.

Use the metric system (optional)

The Emergency Debris Management solution is configured to support the workflows of U.S. state and local emergency management and public works agencies, who perform emergency debris management based on guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These guidelines use the Imperial measurement system (feet and cubic yards) to measure disaster debris volume.

Optionally, the Emergency Debris Management solution can be reconfigured for organizations outside the U.S. who use the Metric system to measure disaster debris volume.

To switch Emergency Debris Management from the Imperial to the Metric measurement system, complete the following activities:

1. Start ArcGIS Survey123 Connect and sign into your ArcGIS organization.
2. Click Debris Assessment Form .
3. Click XLSForm.
4. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet called Debris Assessment Form opens. Click the survey tab.
5. In the label column, change all Imperial measurement references to Metric (for example, change ft. to m., cu. yd to cu. m., in. to cm., and lbs. to kg.)
6. Delete the rows 8-11 (hazardoustree group, diameter and fill fields). These apply only to U.S. FEMA estimation methods which have no comparable international standard.
7. In the calculation field of row 15 (Est. Volume), delete the default function and paste in the following:
   round((${debrislength}*${width}*${height}),1)

8. Click the settings tab. In the instance_name field, change cu yd. to cu. m.
9. Save and close the spreadsheet.
10. In ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, click Publish.
11. Repeat steps 1-5 for the Truck Certification Form.
12. In the calculation field of row 35 (Final Truck Capacity), delete the default function and paste in the following:
    if(selected(${trucktype}, 'Round Bottom Truck'), round(((3.14 * ((number(${truckdiam}) div 2) * (number(${truckdiam}) div 2))) * number(${trucklength})),2), round((number(${trucklength}) * number(${truckwidth}) * number(${truckheight})) - ((((number(${hoistlength1}) + number(${hoistlength2})) div 2) * number(${hoistwidth}) * number(${hoistheight}))) - (3.14 * (number(${radiusft}) * number(${radiusft}))* number(${radiusheight})),2))

13. Save and close the spreadsheet.
14. In ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, click Publish.
15. Repeat steps 1-5 and 8-9 for the Load Ticket and Unload Ticket.
16. Go to the following web maps, review each layer, and in pop-ups change all labels Imperial measurement references to Metric (for example, change ft. to m., cu. yd to cu. m., in. to cm., and lbs. to kg.)
    • Manage Assessment Statuss
    • Debris Assessments Dashboard
    • Manage Removal Status
    • Debris Removal Dashboard
    • Debris Logs
    • Debris Records Reviewer
    • Debris Assessment Form
17. Go to the following apps, review the configuration and change all labels Imperial measurement references to Metric (for example, change ft. to m., cu. yd to cu. m., in. to cm., and lbs. to kg.)
    • Debris Assessments Dashboard
    • Debris Removal Dashboard

Administer debris reports

After an incident, organizations may choose to extract and delete data from the Emergency Debris Management solution in order to prepare for the next incident.

Many organizations require local copies of web layers for disaster recovery or archival purposes. Learn more about how to export data from hosted feature layers into a local file geodatabase to create a local copy of your data.

Organizations may also choose to delete historical data from feature layers after they have archived the data to a local file geodatabase. Learn more on how to delete all records from a feature layer using the ArcGIS REST API service directory in the topic below.

Delete features

To delete features from a hosted feature layer or table, complete the following steps:

Note:

This workflow is optional and doesn't need to be completed to work with the solution.

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. Go to the Overview tab of the hosted feature layer or table.
3. In the lower right corner, in the URL category, click View.

   The ArcGIS REST Services Directory for this page appears.

4. Click the link of the layer or table from which you want to delete records.
5. In Supported Operations, click Delete Features.

   This option is only available when editing has been enabled on the service

6. In the Where parameter, type the following: ObjectID>0.
7. In the Async parameter, set the value to: TRUE.
8. Click Delete Features.

   This process can take several minutes when many features are present.