February 09, 2010 -- Orlando, FL — Flood Map Desktop’sTM latest version equips flood mapping partners with new tools to give them greater flexibility in their efforts to update and maintain flood hazard map data for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Risk Mapping, Analysis, and Planning (MAP) program. From creating flood hazard profiles in GIS to generating detailed label engines, this collection of data and cartographic mapping tools serves as a software extension to support ESRI’s ArcGIS 9.3 platform.

“We’re really excited about this latest version,” says Joshua Price, senior project manager at PBS&J. “Not only did we upgrade the existing tools, we also added many new tools that I think will really ‘wow’ our customers and help them leverage tools that produce measurable production gains. We added tools such as the ability to create flood hazard profiles in GIS instead of CAD; auto-generating base flood elevations; and connecting to enterprise geodatabases through ArcSDE. The software development team also added some new quality control tools.”

Flood Map Desktop sits on the user’s desktop and doesn’t require an Internet connection. Users can manage their own data with no rigid workflow. As Price notes: “We managed to keep the distribution on the customer’s desktop without restricting ArcGIS’s tools or add-ons so users get the speed and flexibility they need.”

Flood Map Desktop comes in two versions—standard and professional. The standard version is a free product that contains the templates, standards, and tools necessary to complete a Risk MAP project. The professional version is a licensed version that upgrades the features to automate data creation tasks, quality control, map labeling, and riverine and coastal flood hazard model interaction.

For more information on support and for downloads visit:  www.floodmapdesktop.com. Once you register, you can access FAQs, wiki, forums, screencasts, webinars, and the help desk.

For queries, contact  floodmapdesktop@pbsj.com

Follow us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/floodmapdesktop

About PBS&J
PBS&J ( www.pbsj.com) is an employee-owned company that provides infrastructure planning, engineering, construction management, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients. The firm is ranked by Engineering News-Record as 30th among the nation’s top consulting firms. PBS&J has nearly 3,900 employees and more than 80 offices across the United States and abroad.