A Six Sigma approach to collection of critical geospatial infrastructure data

Abstract

Coastal communities along the Gulf Shores in Alabama, USA and other neighbouring states are frequently impacted by natural calamities such as hurricanes. Such disasters cause damages that affect critical infrastructures such as gas valves and meters, electric transformers, water valves and meters, fire hydrants, and sewer manholes. Further, sand and debris may cover up such infrastructure fixtures after a disaster, causing difficulty in timely recovery. Damage to critical infrastructure inflicts an estimated 50% or more of the clean-up costs, increases time to recovery, and delays the normal functioning of local business/tourism. An objective of the project was to create a database of the geospatial data of the critical infrastructure. Collecting this data is a labour-intensive and error-prone process. A Six Sigma approach was used to guide the execution of the project and provide control measures to improve the effectiveness of data collection.