We perform an important function in assessing different types of vulnerabilities and needs for local, state, tribal and federal government, the private sector, and nonprofits. We reinforce community efforts to prevent or reduce losses from natural disasters by combining geospatial analysis, modeling, and outreach activities. Our disaster (or crisis) informatics initiatives support disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities. We design and develop open source as well as Esri technology-driven information systems through which to explore the interconnectedness of people, place, community, information, and technology. We also design and implement research to assess the physical, social and economic impacts of hazards. For more information, please download our Geoinformatics general information brochure and Geoinformatics expertise flyer.
The Polis Center helps with emergency preparedness, response, and recovery from disasters; models the economic and social effects of natural disaster and plans activities to mitigate them; collaborates with local experts to understand and apply results for place-based community solutions; and offers professional training in GIS and other geospatial technologies.
Polis also collaborates with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, with which we are a federally recognized Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP), to address ways to understand and mitigate the risk of flooding and to develop required mitigation plans in a number of Indiana counties. Read more here.