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