PA43D-06
Demonstrating the impact of flood adaptation using an online dynamic flood mapper
Thursday, 17 December 2015: 14:45
103 (Moscone South)
Philip M Orton1, Kytt MacManus2, Erin Doxsey-Whitfield2, Gregory Yetman3, Kim Fisher4, Eric Wayne Sanderson4, Mario Giampieri4 and Alan F Blumberg1, (1)Stevens Institute of Tech., Hoboken, NJ, United States, (2)Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States, (3)Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Palisades, NY, United States, (4)Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
Abstract:
Municipalities across the nation are weighing the value of coastal natural and nature‐based features (NNBF) for flood risk reduction and the many ecosystem services they provide, yet there is limited quantitative information available to help make these decisions. Here, we describe a new "dynamic" flood mapping web‐tool that demonstrates the modeled effects of NNBF on flood hazard zones for the highly populated areas surrounding Jamaica Bay, New York City. The tool also provides information on damages from flooding as well as cost‐benefit analyses for NNBF adaptations for the bay. The project researchers are involved with development of a Jamaica Bay Coastal Master Plan, and the mapper will play an important role for increasing the public understanding of adaptation options. More broadly, dynamic flood mappers have many more possibilities than “static” mappers that simply add sea level rise onto pre‐defined flood levels and bathtub them over flood plains. Dynamic modeling can enable inclusion of the response of coastal systems, imposed human adaptation, as well as flooding by surge, tide and precipitation.
