GIS 4048: Week 7 - MEDS Protect

This week revolves around taking the data sets and layers generated last week and applying them with some additional data, particularly some LiDAR derived rasters, and looking at a real world situation. The situation in question is the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.  Here we are taking the MEDS Boston data and looking more so to prevention through establishment of surveillance, security, and observation points within view of the finish line and surrounding area.  With these points, I am utilizing specific analysis tools available through ArcMap.  The overall objectives for this week were to explore the LiDAR data using it to generate Hillshading, perform a Viewshed analysis, and create a Line of Sight analysis utilizing our created observation points.    

This is an overview map of the event area.  This shows a three-mile buffer zone around the marathon finish line.  Identified around the finish line are the 10 closest hospitals and medical centers.  All of these have been identified as needing increased security during the event.  A 500-ft buffer has been placed around each of these critical infrastructure facilities. This is a fairly simplistic view of the area showing the various levels of road features throughout.  The primary, secondary, and local roads are all symbolized appropriately for easy acquisition and understanding.  The lower inset highlights the six counties that are a part of the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area.   

This map shows an up close look at the finish line highlights additional security locations by placing checkpoints at each road intersecting with the 500-ft buffer from the finish line. 

There is much more deliberate analysis in this final map.  The first section at the top is a straightforward look at 15 identified observation points around the block within view of the finish line.  The second frame down combines a multitude of analysis.  Most clearly visible is the Viewshed analysis.  This is the pink and green layer symbolized by pink meaning an area is not visible from the closest associated observation point, and green meaning the view is unobstructed.  This layer is generated by a Hillshade layer which provides the gray shadowing underlying the Viewshed.  Over top of this layer is a line of sight look from each point to the finish line.  The red areas indicate some form of obstruction and the green areas are clear.  This view is further broken down by the most obstructive point and shown in the graph just under the line of sight look. The lower inset shows the area much closer than in the basemap above. 

With this type of planning and technical ability, we can hope that we can better plan and prevent such acts in the future.  This is an excellent look at some of the analysis that goes into such large events drawing tens to hundreds of thousands of people.