Service Pack 20 (SP20) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Verification 
Tool (DVT) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

 

1. What is DVT? 

DVT is a new, automated tool built to replace the outdated QA/QC Pro application component 
of the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) studies workflow. It performs an automated quality 
assurance/quality control (QA/QC) review of all DFIRMs so that errors can be caught and 
fixed prior to the maps becoming final. 

 

2. When will DVT be deployed? 

Phase 1 of deployment, which integrated DVT with the MIP and disconnected the QA/QC Pro 
application, was completed on December 11, 2009. Phase 2 will consist of an enhancement to 
the tool that will allow DFIRMs to be submitted in either Shapefile or Personal Geodatabase 
format. Timeframe for deployment of Phase 2 has not been determined. 

 

3. Who will use DVT? 

Any mapping partner who used the QA/QC Pro application in the MIP studies workflow, 
including Production and Technical Services (PTS), Cooperating Technical Partners (CTPs) 
and legacy Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contractors. 

 

4. What changed with deployment? 

With the deployment of Phase 1, MIP studies workflow users must now submit draft and 
preliminary DFIRMs for automated QA review in Shapefile format, not the e00 file format. 
Please note that submission requirements for final DFIRMs have not changed. DVT 
converts these Shapefiles into Personal Geodatabases prior to the automated review. 

 

5. When should I stop sending DFIRM submissions to QA/QC Pro? 

December 4, 2009 was the last day mapping partners could submit new DFIRM submissions 
to the QA/QC Pro application. All submissions are now routed to the DVT. 

 

6. Is the QA/QC Pro Web site still available? 

The QA/QC Pro Web site will be available until February 11, 2010. Until then, users will be 
able to use the site to search for and review old reports. 

 

7. How is DVT different from QA/QC Pro and will the change impact the submission of 
my DFIRM? 

DVT has the same 81 quality checks as QA/QC Pro did. In addition, it includes 11 new 
topology checks, of which nine are currently turned on. DVT is a more accurate tool than 
QA/QC Pro; therefore mapping partners could experience a higher frequency of failed checks. 
However, overall, DVT will manage DFIRM submissions more efficiently and effectively, as 
well as streamline and reduce the turnaround time for review. It will also provide mapping 
partners with more accurate and detailed reports on the quality of their DFIRMs. 

 

8. What is the tolerance setting? Can it be relaxed? 

 The current tolerance setting is the Personal Geodatabase default. For Shapefile 
submissions, the default tolerance is 0.001 meters, which is the Environmental Systems 

 


Research Institute’s default value within a Personal Geodatabase. FEMA does not plan to 
adjust the tolerance level for the new topology checks at this time. 

 

9. Can I get a bypass for the new topology checks? 

 FEMA will not approve bypasses for the new topology checks. However, the bypass scenarios 
that existed in the QA/QC Pro will still be allowed. 

 

10. How will DVT benefit me? 

Full deployment of DVT will provide three primary benefits to mapping partners. It will: 

. Significantly reduce turnaround time of the automated QA review as DVT can review each 
submission more quickly and efficiently than QA/QC Pro. 


. Review DFIRM submissions more accurately than QA/QC Pro and provide detailed 
reports for review. 


. Provide an easier way to track the progress of DFIRM submissions, as the MIP will 
become the central repository for validating and tracking submissions. 




 

11. What features of DVT will most interest me? 

Most changes that occur with the full deployment of DVT will be seamless to mapping 
partners. However, DVT will include some major enhancements to current functionality in the 
areas of reporting. Specific features of interest include: 

. Creation of a new reporting module that will make it easier to find verification status and 
results. Users will be able to filter report searches by case number, region, state, 
submission type, status or date range. 


. Creation of an administrator module where verification checks can be excluded for a 
specified geography, mapping partner, or case number and results can be modified from 
failed to passed. 




 

12. What assistance will the Customer and Data Services (CDS) contractor provide 
me? 

CDS developed initial guidance for uploading and submitting DFIRMs to DVT which is posted 
to the MIP Web site and the Risk MAP Program Portal. This guidance will be updated, as 
necessary. CDS will also provide more detailed information regarding the new topology 
checks in the near future. Users may contact MIP Help at 877-336-2627 or 
miphelp@riskmapcds.com for additional questions related to DVT.