Title
Memorandum of Understanding Between the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the City of Gainesville to Support and Use Baseline Specifications for LiDAR & Orthophotography (B)
This item involves a request for the City Manager to be authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida Department of Emergency Management that endorses the standards for data gathering via remote sensing technologies.
Explanation
A consortium of state agencies lead by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) developed baseline specifications for remote sensing technologies. The current focus of the FDEM is on the technologies involving Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and orthophotography. These technologies produce models of land surfaces that are useful for planning and management on local, regional and national scales and have many applications that assist in managing cities responsibilities.
Promulgation of the baseline standards ensures that all data collected by individual communities, counties, or statewide agencies will be consistent statewide. This level of coordination will benefit all participants that need remote sensing data to assist in managing their responsibilities.
The attached MOU acknowledges the development efforts of the FDEM lead consortium in the area of remote sensing technologies and adopts these standards for use by the City of Gainesville in the event of a project or program that will use these remote sensing technologies.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management requires that this MOU be signed if the City anticipates taking part in any mapping efforts they are providing to communities. Signing this MOU will allow the City of Gainesville to participate in these mapping opportunities as they are available. Public Works has many uses for the technologies in the management of the infrastructure within its purview. City wide there are also numerous applications for the other operating units and departments.
Fiscal Note
No fiscal obligation associated with this MOU.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager to sign the attached MOU to support the development, maintenance and use of baseline specifications regarding LiDAR and orthophotography acquisition in the City of Gainesville.