RESUMO
As of fiscal year 1995, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that all study contractors submit Flood Insurance Study (FIS) results in digital format; this includes Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) files. Initially, there were concerns that this new digital requirement would cause contractors to incur additional costs, which would inevitably by passed on to FEMA. However, a review of existing digital technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), by the Flood Plain Management Branch of the Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) found that the cost of producing digital floodplain information could be maintained and potentially decreased. A "start to finish" workflow has been developed by the Philadelphia District for the production of digital floodplain information, specifically those intended for incorporation into FEMA DFIRMs. The Philadelphia District's strategy differs from traditional methods in that the study is approached digitally from the star. Data for the FIS is collected in digital format, including a DTM and digital base mapping