By Suzette Cook/FFGS
GAINESVILLE, FL – This is not the first time University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (FFGS) Student Orlando Gonzalez Pollo volunteered to help after a major weather event in Florida.
In response to the devastating flooding caused in Suwannee County by Hurricane Debby in early July, Pollo volunteered to deploy to Live Oak, Florida.
He currently works as an information technology specialist for the Geospatial Solutions Division of Miami-Dade County while pursuing his degree at UF in geomatics with a specialization in surveying and mapping.
During his deployment, Pollo worked closely with the ITD GIS team to create essential heat maps and detailed information for search and rescue operations in flood-affected areas.
“My duties involved producing cartographic products to assist in the planning phase of disaster management,” Pollo said.
“This included developing and publishing public-facing forms to collect data directly from citizens regarding the types of damage they experienced. I also created interactive ArcGIS Online dashboards to track and visualize the data collected from citizens.”
Additionally, Pollo generated paper maps that were used to plan and conduct search and rescue operations by FEMA, the Sheriff’s Office, and the National Guard and he created a QuickCapture application for rescue crews to collect results from their search and rescue operations.
The impacts of Hurricane Debby were particularly visible, especially in the rural areas of the county where most of the flooding occurred, he said.
“During a visit to the Forward Base of Operations, I witnessed firsthand the impact of flooding on multiple farms. I was even involved in a vehicle rescue with the National Guard due to the flooding and heavy mud, where we had to use a Humvee to tow the vehicle back onto the road.”
To see the dashboards created by Pollo follow these links: Suwannee County EMS Flood Search & Rescue Dashboard (arcgis.com) and Comprehensive Flood Impact Solution Dashboard (arcgis.com)
Pollo said he has been actively involved in several emergency response efforts. “I’ve participated in four emergency activations, including two significant deployments in Northern Florida where I volunteered during Hurricane Idalia and, more recently, Hurricane Debby.The assessment resources Pollo helped develop were important for various emergency management organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“By leveraging GIS technology, I helped in planning and conducting damage assessments operations to support disaster management and recovery,” he said.
Pollo said once he finishes his bachelor’s degree, he plans to pursue a master’s in computer science.
“I aspire to continue working as a public servant for Miami-Dade County and to keep gaining valuable experience,” he said. “The ultimate goal is working for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as a GIS professional.
“Orlando’s dedication reflects the core values of our program — empowering students to apply their skills in service to the community,” said Youssef Omar Kaddoura, PhD., geomatics specialist at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC). “His experience exemplifies how UF’s Geomatics program equips students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to make a difference across Florida and beyond.”
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