Question

A geographic information system (GIS) helps scientists visualize, analyze, and interpret data about locations on Earth. Which example BEST describes how city officials can use GIS to plan their response to a natural disaster, ensuring the safety of citizens?
A) They can determine how destructive an earthquake will be, how deep floodwaters will be, and how fast winds will be.
B) They can decide if they should close schools, reschedule high school football games, and set a curfew for teenagers.
C) They can find the neighborhoods that are in the most danger, where to set up shelters, and which routes will help people reach safety.
D) They can determine the safest places to build tourist attractions, find the best routes for avoiding traffic problems, and where to set up shelters.

Answer 1

Answer: C) They can find the neighborhoods that are in the most danger, where to set up shelters, and which routes will help people reach safety.  

Explanation: GIS is an extremely useful tool in analyzing geographic information. By overlaying  topographic data as well as infrastructure, populations, bio-physical datasets (e.g. flood, landslide, storm surge, earthquake data), vulnerable areas as well are relatively safe areas can be detected. Thus, routes to safety as well as shelter construction can be planned.

The strength of an earthquake as well floodwater depth cannot be determined in advance with GIS. The bio.physical datasets that are used come from events that have already occurred and not future events. With GIS the damage caused by a future even can be estimated, but the strength of the natural disaster itself cannot.