Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - Rhode Island Definitions Surging Seas Risk Finder Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps STORMTOOLS Viewer GENERAL Geographic Scope Geographic extent the tool defines or Available for the entire contiguous coastal U.S. - National Coastal areas along Gulf of Mexico & East Coast Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal Rhode Island covers (i.e. national, statewide, - 22 states and Washington, D.C. -- with releases county…) planned for HI and AK in the future.
Organization/Sponsor The organization and/or sponsor of the Climate Central NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA/National Weather Service/WFO Taunton Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management mapping tool. Council & University of Rhode Island Link The URL or link where the tool can be http://riskfinder.climatecentral.org coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr http://www.coast.noaa.gov/floodexposure http://www.weather.gov/box/coastal http://www.beachsamp.org/resources/stormtool accessed. s/ coast.noaa.gov/slrdata/
Description Brief 2-3 sentence description of the Searchable web tool providing 1) maps users A visualization tool for coastal communities A mapping viewer designed to help coastal This tool is intended to help coastal decision A web-based tool developed for Rhode Island to purpose of the tool. can customize, embed, and download; 2) showing potential impacts from sea level rise communities start discussions about coastal makers respond to pending coastal hazard show the extent and depth of inundation for downloads: spreadsheets, slideshow-ready and coastal flooding as well as a planning level flood hazard impacts with maps that show threats. This may include evacuation decisions storm surge, with and without sea level rise(SLR). tables and graphs, and fact sheets; 3) individual tool. people, places, and natural resources exposed to and pre-staging of resources for road closures Estimates are shown for 25, 50, and 100 yr return community analyses; 4) area comparisons; 5) coastal flooding. and post storm clean-up. periods, with 0-5 ft of SLR. Predictions are also local sea level and flood risk projections. 100+ provided for major historical events ( 1938, 1954, demographic, economic & infrastructure 2012) as well as nuisance flooding events with variables analyzed for 1000s of communities return periods of 1,3,5, and 10 yrs. Maps of 100 from zip code to statewide levels. yr water level and significant wave height are also provided to support engineering design. Target Audience The assumed users of the tool (e.g. Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, Emergency managers, other coastal decision- Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, planners, coastal managers, public) emergency managers, federal and state floodplain managers, emergency managers, floodplain managers, emergency managers, makers, people living or working near enough to floodplain managers, emergency managers, agencies, journalists and the general public coastal scientists and engineers, general public general public the shore to be at risk or have property at risk coastal scientists and engineers, general public from coastal flooding
Skill Level Low (no formal training other than basic Low Low Low Low Low computer skills); Medium (need moderate amount of knowledge about coastal management or processes to interpret results); High (need high level of knowledge to interpret information).
Main Tool Outputs Qualitatively different tool functions or Maps, community analyses, wide area analysis Maps, photo simulations, flood frequency graphs Maps Time series tide forecasts, maps depicting Maps, charts depicting siginicant wave heights modules that a user can take from the comparisons, projections, downloads and inundation areas tool. For example, a map might be the reports primary output, however, the tool may also allow the user to comparisons, scenarios or generate reports.
Year Released Year the most current version of the tool Rolling release starting Fall 2013 2011 Gulf of Mexico / 2012 US West and Mid- 2015 Updated 2015 Rolling: Updated periodically, but initial release was released. Atlantic Coasts / 2013 US NW, SW and Pacific was in Jan 2014 Islands / 2014 Puerto Rico, USVI
Date Column Last Updated July, 2016 October, 2014 October, 2015 November, 2015 November, 2015 Top Three Strengths As succinctly as possible, list the top 1) Comprehensive tool providing exposure 1) Easy to use via Web browser, with GIS 1) Allows users to select a location and explore 1) Ease of use - one can quickly get a glimpse of 1) Easy to use via Web browser, does not require three strengths that make this tool analysis, comparisons, and projections, as well analysis results and map services available; 2) maps that show people, places, and natural shorelines at risk for coastal flooding via color GIS; 2) High resolution ( 1 m) topographic data unique. as an interactive map. 2) Analyses cover ~100 Uses consistent data sets and analysis for resources exposed to coastal flood hazards; 2) coded watches/warnings. 2) Can quickly link to set used to allow parcel-based analysis; 3) variables, and conducted for 1000's of individual coastal areas nation-wide; 3) Includes photos Creates a collection of maps to download or tide forecasts for selected locations either as Integrates other state specific Rhode Island data areas (zips, cities, counties, states, planning and and allows users to visualize impacts of sea level share online to communicate flood exposure; 3) time series graph or text watch/warning/advisory sets on critical infrastructure, 911 address legislative districts at all levels). 3) Local rise at known locations. Provides guidance for using the maps to engage product when a headline is in effect. 3) Easily use database, population density data, etc.; 4) Allows projections combine sea level rise and storm community members and stakeholders in a slider bar to view inundation extent and depth the combined impacts of storms and sea level surge to give integrated risk estimates by conversations about potential coastal flood for selected total water level (as well as 100 yr rise to be viewed concurrently.; 5) Users can decade. impacts velocity zones). search by address toolbar.; 6) Provides surge and wave height information for coastal engineering & designs.
Top Three Limitations As succinctly as possible, list the top 1) Map should not be used for site-specific 1) Inundation scenarios do not include coastal 1) Cannot customize outputs or load additional 1) The inundation mapping displays total static 1) Does not currently include shoreline change three weaknesses or limitations that decisions (supplement with direct field storm surge, riverine flooding, erosion or other local inputs directly into the tool; 2) Appropriate water level and does not incorporate and barrier migration. 2) Does not include inland coastal planners or managers might measurements of elevation), as wider-area coastal processes; 2) Appropriate for use as a for use as a screening-level or planning tool contribution to inundation from waves. 2) One flooding or the impacts of precipitation in coastal encounter using this tool. analyses are more robust than point-by-point screening-level or planning tool allowing zoom allowing zoom in scale of approximately needs to refer to Coastal Flood Watch/Warning flooding. 3) Only covers Rhode Island. mapping; 2) Levee data are incomplete, and in scale of approximately 1:18,055, but provides 1:18,055; 3) Changes or updates to source to know forecast total water level to use for map maps/analyses incorporating levees assume map services and data download for more in datasets will not be reflected in the tool until the (future effort will be to default maps to forecast condition good and heights infinite; 3) No depth analysis. 3.) Includes fully enclosed next data update is completed water level). 3) Specific tide forecasts and coastal physical modeling of storm surge or waves on federal levees as mapped by the USACE National impact category are only available for selected top of sea level rise. Levee Database. Partially enclosed, regional, or locations. local levees are being incorporated when suitable levee data when it becomes available. Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - Rhode Island Definitions Surging Seas Risk Finder Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps STORMTOOLS Viewer Point of Contact Please give a key contact for questions Dan Rizza: [email protected] [email protected] or Russell Jackson: [email protected] Jim Notchey ([email protected]) Bob Teresa Crean: [email protected] about the tool and its future [email protected] Thompson ([email protected]) development. Name and email address.
SEA LEVEL RISE & FLOOD SCENARIOS Base Sea Level Elevation Reference surface for which elevation is Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) MLLW and for inundation maps depth of water NAVD88 zero, such as mean higher high water. All above ground other given elevations are computed as the height above this surface.
Flood/Inundation Controls Method inundation or water levels are Slider bar with inundation delineated in 1 foot Slider bar with inundation delineated in 1 foot Users selects individual coastal flood hazards or Slider bar with 1 foot increments User clicks on and off the different scenarios they changed by the user (e.g. slider bar, radio increments from 1 - 10 feet. Toggle button to increments from 0 - 6 feet composite flood hazards. would like depicted on the map. buttons) the right of the slider to view inundation risk from sea level rise, tides, storms, and tsunamis in meters: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 10, 20 & 30. Flood Layers Represented How are the inundation or flood level Blue - inundation; Hatched - low-lying but Blue - inundation; Green - low-lying areas FEMA flood Zones (1%, 0.2%, V-Zones), Category Colors used to depict various depths consistent Flood level for a certain return period is depicted indicated on the map. Does the map use isolated 3 hurricane storm surge zones (SLOSH MOMs), with NHC real-time inundation maps with light blue. Flood plus 1' sea level rise shaded colors to show flooded areas? sea level rise inundation (from NOAA Sea Level in yellow. Flood plus 2', 3' and 5' sea level rise Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer), shaded in shades of blue. shallow coastal flooding (from NOAA Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer), coastal flood hazard composite Uncertainty Represented Yes/No. Is uncertainty of the flood levels No for elevation, yes for projections Yes No Not on map. Coastal Flood product displays No, Uncertainty is handled through use of 95% indicated on the map? ranges and text info confidence interval value for water level return period. Way Uncertainty Represented If uncertainty is represented as indicated Map does not represent uncertainty in elevation Confidence is noted as High vs. Low, so the Surge and total water level forecasts in Coastal Fl in the field above, then how is it values. However, projection tool presents areas not highlighted as high or low indicate a represented? Briefly describe. different sea level rise models and scenarios, high confidence of not being inundated: "...the and reflects uncertainty information as available blue areas denote locations that may be for these. correctly mapped as "inundated" more than 8 out of 10 times. Areas with low confidence represent location that may be mapped correctly (either as inundated or dry) less than 8 Predictions are provided for once in 25, 50, and out of 10 times." 100 yr return periods (at the upper 95% confidence level). Supporting documents on the site provide assessment of uncertainty on predictions. Projects local sea level rise Yes/No. Includes localized (not just Yes No No No - more of a real time tool Yes, Based on NOAA/USACE projections for global) projections for the amount of sea Providence and Newport, RI. level rise over time. Local projections must take into account regional and local factors such as sinking land.
Projects future flood elevations Yes/No. Includes projections for how high Yes No No No Yes, but only sea level rise "standard" floods -- e.g. "1-in-100 year" floods -- will reach in the future, accounting for sea level rise and/or changing storms.
Projects future flood risk at Yes/No. Includes projections for the Yes No No No No fixed elevations future annual and/or cumulative risk of floods to fixed elevations -- e.g. 5 ft. above today's sea level -- accounting for sea level rise and/or changing storms.
Projection time periods Include all years/periods for which each decade 2020-2100 No No No - more of a real time tool No assessed projections are made. Flood projections factor in Yes/No. Self-explanatory. Not applicable No No No No No changing frequency or intensity if flood projections not provided. of storms
Allows choice of projection Yes/No. Choice of emissions scenario or Yes No No No No scenarios/models choice of sea level rise model such as NOAA's lowest, intermediate low, intermediate high, or highest sea level rise scenario; USACE lower, middle, or upper sea level rise projections; or the range of IPCC sea level projections.
Shows levees Yes/No. Shows levees on map. Include Yes Yes - Links to USACE NLD No Yes No. Not applicable in RI source of levee information if possible. Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - Rhode Island Definitions Surging Seas Risk Finder Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps STORMTOOLS Viewer Factors in levees Yes/No. Factors levees into map and any Yes Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based elevation Yes No. Not applicable in RI analysis of vulnerable areas. Summarize elevation data data methods if possible.
Inundation Model Used Briefly and in as non-technical as Modified bathtub approach, modeling Modified bathtub approach, modeling hydraulic The various coastal flood hazard layers displayed Modified bathtub approach with use of Downscaled output from coupled ADCIRC and possible, describe the modeling method hydrologic connectivity and locally adjusted connectivity and locally adjusted Mean Higher are derived from different modeling methods. connectivity tool. STWAVE as applied by US ACE in the North used. Mean Higher High Water levels. High Water levels. Refer to layer source information. Atlantic Comprehensive Coastal Study for tropical and extratropical storms EXPOSURE ANALYSIS
Tabulates exposure within Yes/No. Gives total land, housing, etc. Yes no just overlay visualization of social and No No - just area subject to inundation based on No designated areas exposed at different flood or sea levels, economic data total water level selected within units such as cities or counties
Exposure types tabulated Variables analyzed, such as land, housing, >100 demographic, economic, environmental No No No No property value, population, roads, and infrastructure variables airports or other infrastructure
Designated areas for tabulation Geographic units within which exposure zip codes, cities, counties, states, local through No No No No is tabulated, such as cities, counties, federal legislative districts, planning districts, states or zip codes state agency districts
Shows or lists individual Yes/No. Tool is able to give the user Lists all facilities analyzed in tables for No Yes, through visualization overlays No - not directly Yes by GIS layer overlays exposed facilities or public output that would allow them to download. Shows select facilities and infrastructure evaluate potential vulnerable facilities infrastructure on map. and/or public infrastructure. Output could be either a map, or a report/listing.
Compares exposure across Yes/No. Includes display (e.g. heat map) Yes No No No No designated areas showing how different areas compare (e.g. how do counties compare for exposure of housing) SHORELINE PROCESSES Other Flooding Scenarios Other than the model scenarios above, Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with Shallow Coastal Flood Frequency see all flood datasets listed above Coastal flooding resulting from total water level The method, described in Spaulding et al (2015), Modeled are there other flooding scenarios flood risk chosen is based on using the water level vs return mapped? (i.e. specific storm scenarios, periods at the NOAA gauging station at Newport, shallow coastal flooding, base flood RI and scaling the values, based on the prediction elevations) of high resolution storm simulations performed by US ACOE in the NACCS study, to estimate inundation levels for varying return periods for the coastal waters of the state. Predictions are provided for once in 25, 50, and 100 yr return periods (at the upper 95% confidence level), with sea level rises of 1, 2, 3, and 5 ft (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.52 m). Coastal Erosion Yes/No. Does the method used take No No No No No coastal erosion processes into account?
Sediment Dynamics/Deposition Yes/No. Does the method used take No No No No No coastal sediment dynamics and deposition into account?
Storm Events Yes/No. Does the method used take the Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with No No No - not explicitly but one can choose a total Yes. Includes selected sea level rise estimates impacts of future storm events into flood risk water level from a fictitious event to assess account? extent/depth of flooding.
Habitat/Species Change Yes/No. Does the method allow the user No No No No No to visualize potential impacts to habitats and changes in species distribution?
Marsh Migration Yes/No. Does the method allow the user No Yes No No Yes to visualize the potential impacts to coastal marshes and how they may migrate with rising sea level? TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Basemap Options What types of base map(s) are used in Satellite, Streets Satellite, Streets Satellite, grey canvas Streets, satellite 12 options, including various forms of imagery, the tool? (e.g. satellite imagery, street, and topographic topographic, streets, hybrid maps)
Main elevation data source Examples include LIDAR or National Lidar Lidar Lidar Lidar lidar Elevation Dataset. Main elevation data source Published error. Use maximum error, or (same as NOAA) NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE MassGIS Data - LiDAR Terrain Data and 2011 RI Lidar (2011), 15 cm RSME vertical accuracy accuracy standard, when different sub- Rhode Island Statewide LiDAR data datasets have different error.
Horizontal resolution Dimension of elevation grid cell size. 5 Meters (~15 feet) 5 Meters (~15 feet) Varies across datasets. 1 meter The cell size for input data and inundation surfaces is 1 m (3.28 ft.) Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - Rhode Island Definitions Surging Seas Risk Finder Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps STORMTOOLS Viewer Other Available Data Layers Beyond the inundation/flooding layers, On map: Social Vulnerability, Population Flood Frequency, Social and Economic Population density, poverty density, elderly FEMA 100 year velocity zones Many other arcgis.com data layers can be added what other unique data layers are Density, Ethnicity, Income, Property, Landmarks. Vulnerability at Census block groups, Marsh density, employment density, projected to maps, including Rhode Island specific data sets available? In analysis and comparison tools: about 100 Impacts, Photo visualizations of key landmarks population change, developed land cover, on critical infrastructure (hospitals, schools, population and infrastructure variables. critical facilities, land cover changed to emergency management facilities), commercial developed (1996-2011), natural areas and open and residential structures based on 911 database, space, potential pollution sources population density, evacuation routes, roadways, etc. Place name searchable Yes No No No Yes, address searchable Maximum Zoom-in What is the farthest in a user can zoom in 1:4,500 Tile cached data to 1:18,055 Tile cached data to 1:18,055 Leaflet zoom level 18, approximatley 1:2000 20 m window with the tool? Map Services Available Yes/No. Are the data layers in the tool No Yes Yes Yes Yes available as map services that can be accessed by the public?
Data Download Available Yes/No. Are the data layers in the tool Yes Yes No No Not yet. In progress ( Nov 2015) available for download by the public? If data download available, If answered yes for Data Download Summary tables and detailed lists in Excel for Inundation, confidence, shallow coastal NA In progress please list types Available, please list the layers that are 100+ demographic, economic, infrastructure flooding, SOVI, and DEMs available for download. and environmental variables, tabulated by state, county, municipality, zip code, planning and legislative districts, & more
Does tool use other map Yes/No. Does the tool consume other No Yes, ESRI Basemaps, US. Corps Engineer Yes, ESRI Basemaps, Esri Population Change Leaflet Yes, ESRI Basemaps and ArcGIS services? map services from other providers as a National Levee Database Projections 2012-2017 part of the tool? If so, which ones. (please specify)
Additional Software Needed Yes/No. Does the user require additional No No No No No software in order to use the tool?
Cross Platform Yes/No. Is the tool platform and Yes (modern browsers) Yes Yes Yes Yes operating system independent? (i.e. can it operate on all computer platforms equally well)
Mobile Compatible Yes/No. Will the tool operate on any On modern tablets/phones Yes Yes Haven’t fully tested it yet. Yes mobile platform (e.g. iPad, iPhone, Android)? OTHER Training Requirements Does the tool require training before it None but support available as needed. None None No None but support available as needed. can be used efficiently? Documentation, Training & Describe the types of documentation on Research papers for each state, FAQs, FAQs, methodologies, and related technical FAQs, data documentation, new training link to Still a work in progress STORMTOOLS for Beginners available at Technical Resources tool methods and training resources methodologies, tutorials documents; brief "First Time Tips" video; 56- the tool that includes a pre-recorded detailed http://www.beachsamp.org/resources/stormtool available. minute recorded webinar, In-person or online demonstration s/ training available upon request
Is the tool based on, or Please list the peer-reviewed publications Based on Strauss et al 2012 and Tebaldi et al Marcy, et al., 2011. “New Mapping Tool and None No Spaulding and Isaji, 2014. "Simplified Flood featured in, any peer-reviewed that the tool, or underlying model, has 2012, Environmental Research Letters. Featured Techniques for Visualizing Sea Level Rise and Inundation Maps, with Sea Level Rise, for RI" publication(s)? If so, please list discussed and/or featured the tool. in Wong-Parodi G, Fischhoff B, and Strauss BH Coastal Flooding Impacts.” In Proceedings of the Available online at: www.beachsamp.org/the- (2014) Climatic Change, 1-9, Stephens et al 2014 2011 Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference, science-behind-stormtools/. Spaulding et al , Science Communication, and the Science of Anchorage, Alaska, June 26 to June 29, 2011, 2015. Application of STORMTOOLS’s simplified Science Communication II Sackler Colloquium edited by Louise A. Wallendorf, Chris Jones, flood inundation model, with and without sea PNAS 2014. Lesley Ewing, and Bob Battalio, 474–90. Reston, level rise, to RI coastal waters, In Proceedings of VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. ASCE Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference, Boston, MA September 2015.
Costs Are there costs involved in using this None None None None None tool? Does the user community bear any of the development cost directly?
Are Future Versions Planned? Please describe if there are plans for Yes Version 2.0 released in 2014. Enhancements of Future updates anticipated Yes Yes, to incorporate shoreline change and coastal future improvements to the tool. base data ongoing. processes, to develop a Coastal Environmental Risk Index, and to allow access via an app. Why Use This? This matrix was created to provide the planning and coastal management communities with an expandable chart to compare the functions and methods of publicly available sea level rise and coastal flood web tools. The information in each column is provided by the web tool owner. Specific questions about the tools can be addressed to the tool owner through the contact information provided in their matrix column. About the Matrix: The matrix was originally developed as part of California’s Lifting the Fog workshop that sought to provide guidance to end users interested in using modeled sea level rise projections in coastal planning. The following agencies/organizations contributed to the development of this online matrix: The Nature Conservancy, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, and Climate Central. If you publish a web tool but don't see it in the matrix, please contact [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. Suggested Citation: The Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix. The Nature Conservancy, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, Climate Central. URL, Date Access: Post in APA Recovery News blog: http://blogs.planning.org/postdisaster/2015/06/23/online-matrix-guides-planners-to-available-sea-level-rise-and-coastal-flood-risk-web-tools/ Access Lifting the Fog Website: http://coastaladaptation.org/liftingthefog/ For online version of matrix visit: http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/matrix