ITL Smartphone Technology helps fight 2011 Flood

David Stuart, Robert Walker and James Pettitt, ERDC ITL team members, took a kit with 20 Android based SmartPhones with custom ITL Mobile Data Collection software to the Memphis District to use as near-real time data collection devices during the Mississippi River Flood of 2011.

Upon arrival Friday afternoon, West Memphis Sector personnel were trained to use the Smartphones to collect photos, video, text notes, and voice notes from Memphis sites where various flood related distresses were found. These personnel then took the phones with them into the field on their inspection routes and using Smartphone Internet access sent back their photos and videos of found distresses to the command center in real-time. Engineers and sector leaders sitting in the command center could review the data and dispatch additional resources as necessary to the distresses that warranted further attention.

Over 220 data points were collected during the three days of use of the system, capturing over 350 photos, videos, text notes and voice notes. District personnel were very impressed and pleased with the system's ease of use and most were not willing to give their phones back until absolutely necessary.