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

1. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
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

2. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: The Scenarios
Spring High Hide = Mean Tide Plus 1’ SLR
Wickford Market Place 10 Sept., 2010 Photo: T. Crean

3. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: The Scenarios
3’ SLR = Surge from Extratropical Storm
Middlebridge, South Kingstown 28 Oct., 2006 Photo: T. Crean

4. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: LiDAR
Digital Elevation Models
Source: NED 30m (~98ft) Source: LiDAR 0.6m (2ft)

5. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
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

6. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
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

7. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise:
Seamless Elevation/Bathymetry
Statewide coverage
– 2’ cell size
– local accuracy determined by
input source quality
Available online

8. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: Inundation Modeling
“Bathtub” Analysis Modeled Analysis
Single value applied across study Modeled output varies across
area study area
Include erosion and run-up
SLOSH, HAZUS, etc.

9. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise:
Statewide Products
Elevation/Bathymetry
– 2’ pixel size
SLR surfaces
– 1’, 3’, 5’, 1938 surge
Contour lines
– 2’, 5’, 10’

10. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
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

11. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: Real Property Exposure
* Requires parcel and
tax data

12. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: Infrastructure Exposure

13. Adapting to a Changing Climate:
To o l s f o r C o m m u n i t y A s s e s s m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g
Mapping Sea Level Rise: DIY Mapping
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