Published: Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Camano man's software helped county track the flood
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Courtesy of Mike Geertsen
Depiction Version 1, software designed by Mike Geertsen, who lives on Camano Island, was used during recent flooding to show such things as closed roads and flooded homes in the Silvana area.
During the recent floods, a new computer program showed staff at emergency command centers where the Stillaguamish River had soaked fields in Silvana.
Looking at a computer screen, disaster workers could tell where roads were closed and where streets and houses were flooded. Depiction Version 1 was designed by an Everett company to help map communities in bad and good times.
"I founded the company after leaving Microsoft in 2005 and moving from Redmond to Camano," said Mike Geertsen of Camano Island, who calls himself the head coach of a small startup company called Depiction Inc.
His last few years at Microsoft were spent in their entertainment division, specifically the simulation group, home of Microsoft Flight Simulator. He was responsible for planning and business development.
"One of my most creative experiences was initiating and shepherding the creation of Microsoft Train Simulator, which sold more than 1 million copies to railroad fans around the world."
He said he isn't technical enough to be a programmer, but he has a passion for using technology to make a positive difference in our lives.
"I developed a passion for seeing if you can do business differently and still innovate technically," Geertsen said. "As a result, the culture here at Depiction is very different from what I experienced at Microsoft."
The Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center used Depiction Version 1 monitor what was happening around the county -- road closures, dike breeches, shelter activations, reports of flooded neighborhoods.
"Depiction software proved very useful by allowing us to view a graphic overlay of open Red Cross shelter locations, closed streets and roads, and residential flooding reports," said Chuck Morrison, executive director of the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross used the software to provide residential damage estimates to Snohomish County's Department of Emergency Management.
Geertsen is proud that the program was able to help during the disaster.
He created his ideal workplace, one of harmony, in Everett. He said his family is learning about the lifestyle of country living.
"The move to Camano was mainly a lifestyle decision," Geertsen said. "We had a vacation home there and found it increasingly difficult to come back to civilization."
Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
Looking at a computer screen, disaster workers could tell where roads were closed and where streets and houses were flooded. Depiction Version 1 was designed by an Everett company to help map communities in bad and good times.
"I founded the company after leaving Microsoft in 2005 and moving from Redmond to Camano," said Mike Geertsen of Camano Island, who calls himself the head coach of a small startup company called Depiction Inc.
His last few years at Microsoft were spent in their entertainment division, specifically the simulation group, home of Microsoft Flight Simulator. He was responsible for planning and business development.
"One of my most creative experiences was initiating and shepherding the creation of Microsoft Train Simulator, which sold more than 1 million copies to railroad fans around the world."
He said he isn't technical enough to be a programmer, but he has a passion for using technology to make a positive difference in our lives.
"I developed a passion for seeing if you can do business differently and still innovate technically," Geertsen said. "As a result, the culture here at Depiction is very different from what I experienced at Microsoft."
The Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center used Depiction Version 1 monitor what was happening around the county -- road closures, dike breeches, shelter activations, reports of flooded neighborhoods.
"Depiction software proved very useful by allowing us to view a graphic overlay of open Red Cross shelter locations, closed streets and roads, and residential flooding reports," said Chuck Morrison, executive director of the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross used the software to provide residential damage estimates to Snohomish County's Department of Emergency Management.
Geertsen is proud that the program was able to help during the disaster.
He created his ideal workplace, one of harmony, in Everett. He said his family is learning about the lifestyle of country living.
"The move to Camano was mainly a lifestyle decision," Geertsen said. "We had a vacation home there and found it increasingly difficult to come back to civilization."
Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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