Integrating CASA radar data and GIS using Google Earth to better support emergency managers

A method is suggested by which radar data from the CASA project can be integrated within a GIS to create products which aid emergency managers in the field. Because emergency managers often forced to rely on text based information due to the large file sizes of radar data, it is often difficult for them to get an idea of how the meteorological situation is changing and how that relates to their jurisdiction. Using the ArcGIS software suite, Python and Visual Basic programming tools, and Google Earth software, an automated method was devised which allows CASA radar scans to be processed, modified, and displayed along with information about local infrastructure and land use, in order to aid emergency managers in their decision making process and their damage estimates within their jurisdiction. The script and macro built in this project offer a new method by which emergency managers can get relevant information, potentially giving them a better view of the how the atmosphere could affect their areas, and what the best course of action might be to keep people and property safe.