STORMTOOLS: Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI)

 

ceri-picOne of the challenges facing coastal zone managers and municipal planners is the development of an objective, quantitative assessment of the risk to structures, infrastructure, and public safety that coastal communities face from storm surge in the presence of changing climatic conditions, particularly sea level rise and coastal erosion. Here we use state of the art modeling tool (ADCIRC and STWAVE) to predict storm surge and wave, combined with shoreline change maps (erosion), and damage functions to construct a Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI). Access to the state emergency data base (E-911) provides information on structure characteristics and the ability to perform analyses for individual structures. CERI has been designed as an on line Geographic Information System (GIS) based tool, and hence is fully compatible with current flooding maps, including those from FEMA. The basic framework and associated GIS methods can be readily applied to any coastal area. The approach can be used by local and state planners to objectively evaluate different policy options for effectiveness and cost/benefit.

STORMTOOLS Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI) Risk and Damage Assessment APP (2019)

In presenting results of STORMTOOLS flooding, design elevation and CERI maps to regulators, permit applicants, state and town planners, builders, insurance and real estate agents, bankers, and the public, the issue of how best to provide access to the information was a repeated theme. While web access was found to be very useful, the overwhelming response was to take the next step and develop a mobile app to meet this need. The goal of this effort is therefore to develop an app that will provide access to flood and wind risk and associated damages for a user selected structure. Using the device’ gps location and information about the structure, the app will return key attributes of the site and structure (e.g. grade elevation, inundation depth and wave height for selected SLR, location relative to erosion setback, freeboard allowance, building height restrictions, etc.), the ASCE 7-16 hazard assessment for the site (e.g. winds), and the results of CERI for the structure selected for flooding damage, as well as, the risk levels (low to extremely high) in the immediate vicinity of the site.

CERI App Instructions

View full project description here

STORMTOOLS Design Elevation Maps (2019)

Spaulding, M. L., A. Grilli, C. Damon, R. Hashemi, S. Kouhi Anbaran, and G. Fugate, 2019.
STORMTOOLS Design Elevation (SDE) Maps: including impact of sea level rise, report prepared for RI Coastal Resources Management Council, South Kingstown, RI 02879.

SDE maps:

Southern RI shoreline (South Coast)

Narragansett Bay

CERI, Rhode Island South Coast (2019)

Spaulding M. L., A. Grilli, C. Damon, T. Crean, and G. Fugate, 2019.
Developing the RI Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI) to Inform State and Local Planning and Decision Making: Application to the Communities along the Southern RI Shoreline, report prepared for RI Coastal Resources Management Council, South Kingstown, RI 02879. 

CERI maps:

Rhode Island South Coast

STORMTOOLS: Coastal Environmental Risk Index, Proof of Concept (2017)

In the development of CERI in Rhode Island, two coastal communities served as the pilot/proof of concept: (1) Town of Charlestown – representing a typical coastal barrier system directly exposed to ocean waves and high erosion rates, with predominantly low density single family residences; and  (2) City of Warwick – located within Narragansett Bay, with more limited wave exposure, lower erosion rates, and higher residential housing density.  Results of these studies are described in the published papers listed below.

CERI maps:

Barrington-Warren- Bristol & Warwick, RI

https://crc-uri.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=63fc6b8970ce4ef5902c307f2c8e36e2

Technical Papers:

Application of State of Art Modeling Techniques to Predict Flooding and Waves for an Exposed Coastal Area (2017)

http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/5/1/10

Application of State of the Art Modeling Techniques to Predict Flooding and Waves for a Coastal Area within a Protected Bay (2017)

http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/5/1/14

Effect of Coastal Erosion on Storm Surge: A Case Study in the Southern Coast of Rhode Island (2016)

http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/4/4/85

Assessment of Damage and Adaptation Strategies for Structures and Infrastructure from Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise for a Coastal Community in Rhode Island, United States (2016)

http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/4/4/67

STORMTOOLS: Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI) (2016)

http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/4/3/54