Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: Tools for Community Assessment and

Planning

Christopher Damon Environmental Data Center, University of Rhode Island Pam Rubinoff Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: The Scenarios

Spring High Hide = Mean Tide Plus 1’ SLR Wickford Market Place 10 Sept., 2010 Photo: T. Crean

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: The Scenarios

3’ SLR = Surge from Extratropical Storm Middlebridge, South Kingstown 28 Oct., 2006 Photo: T. Crean

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: LiDAR

Digital Elevation Models

Source: NED 30m (~98ft) Source: LiDAR 0.6m (2ft)

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: LiDAR LiDAR Basics

Airborne Light Detection And Ranging

Distance measured by time difference

LiDAR is indiscriminate

Records > 100k points per second

Ability to differentiate between trees and ground

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: LiDAR

LiDAR Consolidation

12 Datasets merged together

– 1997 thru 2009

– Different formats, scales, quality

– Largely inaccessible and unusable – Included all available bathymetry

Capitalize on existing information

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise:

Statewide coverage – 2’ cell size – local accuracy determined by

input source quality

Available online

Seamless Elevation/Bathymetry

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: Inundation Modeling

“Bathtub” Analysis Modeled Analysis

Single value applied across study area

Modeled output varies across study area Include erosion and run-up

SLOSH, HAZUS, etc.

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise:

Statewide Products

Elevation/Bathymetry – 2’ pixel size

SLR surfaces – 1’, 3’, 5’, 1938 surge

Contour lines – 2’, 5’, 10’

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise:

Estimating Vulnerability Use state SLR surfaces

Additional data – RIGIS

E911 structures, roads, evacuation routes, shelters, etc.

– NK parcels and property values

– NK facilities and engineering

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: Real Property Exposure

* Requires parcel and tax data

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: Infrastructure Exposure

Adapting to a Changing Climate: Too ls fo r Commun i t y Assessment and P lann ing

Mapping Sea Level Rise: DIY Mapping

www.arcgis.com