GIS firm to map Wichita flood areas

Merrick and Co., an engineering and geospatial solutions firm, will provide imagery to help the city of Wichita, Kan., determine flood boundaries.

The Aurora, Colo., company will deliver light detection and ranging data, 1-foot contours, and color aerial photography covering a 12.5-square-mile area. Merrick will perform the work under a contract awarded by HNTB, a public infrastructure design and engineering company. The final delivery of the data is slated for March.

The uncertainty of flooding potential has slowed development in the Wichita region, according to Merrick. A 1998 flood in Wichita destroyed many homes. The Wichita Eagle reported that the city will spend about $600,000 on surveys and maps to more accurately predict which parts of Wichita could flood.

The city will use Merrick’s imagery to create new flood boundaries. When the city determines those boundaries, it will send a Letter of Map Revision to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which maintains the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map.