Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Verification Tool (DVT) Background The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Verification Tool (DVT) is a new automated QA/QC review tool built to replace the outdated component of the Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Pro application within the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) Studies workflow. When deployed, the DVT will more efficiently and effectively manage DFIRM submissions, and streamline and reduce the turnaround time for automated QA/QC reviews. Features of DVT Features of the DVT include: . Integration of the DVT into the MIP production environment (previously the MIP and QA/QC Pro were hosted and maintained separately), creating a central repository for validating, reviewing and tracking DFIRM submissions for automated QA/QC review . Creation of a new DVT reporting module within the MIP to enhance users’ ability to find verification status and results . Ability to filter DVT reports searches by case number, Region, state, submission type (test, draft, preliminary, final), submission status (in progress, pass, fail) and submission date range . Ability to test submissions for specified categories of checks . Creation of a DVT Administration module with the ability to exclude verification checks for a specified geography, mapping partner, or case number, and modify submission results from failed to passed Benefits of DVT . Streamlined architecture that enhances the maintainability of the QA review application . The ability to submit Shapefiles for automated QA review instead of e00s, and, upon deployment of Phase 2 (see below), the ability to submit Personal Geodatabases. . Significant reduction in automated QA review turnaround times . Reduced need for full-time administration and manual intervention User Impact Deployment of the DVT will occur in two phases. During the first phase, scheduled for the weekend of December 11, the DVT will be integrated into the MIP and the MIP and QA/QC Pro will be disconnected. In the “Draft” and “Preliminary” stages of the MIP Studies workflow, users will be required to submit DFIRM submissions for automated QA review in Shapefile format as opposed to e00s. The submission requirements for the “Final” stage will not change at this time. Shapefiles will be converted by the DVT to Personal Geodatabases prior to the automated QA review. The QA/QC Pro Web site will remain available for a short period of time after the deployment of the DVT. It is important to note that the DVT does not replace the visual QC requirement. Updated guidance for uploading and submitting DFIRMs to the automated QA review with the DVT will be distributed to the MIP Champions, Black Belts, Regional Program Management Leads (RPMLs) and Production and Technical Services (PTS) firms. The updated guidance will also be posted to MIP User Care. The DVT will be enhanced in the near future so that DFIRMs can be submitted for automated QA review in either Shapefile or Personal Geodatabase format. This enhancement, called Phase 2, does not have a final time frame for deployment. December 4, 2009: Mapping partners should not send new DFIRM submissions to QA/QC Pro after this date December 7 to December 10, 2009: Users can send re-submissions to QA/QC Pro during those days. December 11, 2009: Users should not submit any submissions to QA/QC Pro on this day. The MIP team will use this day to process any remaining submissions in the QA/QC Pro queue from earlier in that week and then “disconnect” QA/QC Pro from the MIP and turn on the DVT. Weekend of December 11, 2009: DVT deployment December 14, 2009: Submissions to the automated QA review process will be routed to the DVT. Users will be required to submit Shapefiles for automated QA review in the “Draft” and “Preliminary” stages of the MIP studies workflow rather than e00s. Users will be required to submit a Shapefile, e00 and Map Info file in the “Final” stage of the MIP studies workflow (no change from today).