“Climate change is already leading to unprecedented flooding, but urban planners have many tools to help them keep things dry,” wrote Ziqian (Cecilia) Dong, PhD, in an article published on the Scientific American Blog Network

Note to Reader:

Ziqian (Cecilia) Dong, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York Institute of Technology. From computer network and security to engineering tools for better quality of life, Cecilia Dong believes that creativity is the key to training next-generation engineers and entrepreneurs—a point she routinely makes to her students. She challenges students to solve real-world engineering and research problems in her courses.

Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer. Link: https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/

How Cities Can Protect Themselves from Rising Waters

‘Across the U.S., policymakers are scrambling to protect their communities from the effects of climate change,” stated Ziqian (Cecilia) Dong in the opening paragraph of her article titled How Cities Can Protect Themselves from Rising Waters.

“Four in 10 Americans live in coastal areas. and this population will surge in the coming years.”

Time is of the Essence

“Policymakers have limited time and resources, so they should rely on the latest computer modeling and other technologies to identify and implement the most efficient adaptation strategies,” continued Ziqian Dong.

“Floods and storms will grow more intense in the coming decades. Computer modeling and visualization tools can help us identify the weakest links and plan strategically.

“Communities—both in the U.S. and worldwide—must prepare now for severe storms and rising seas. New technology can help them invest their resources wisely. And with the right infrastructure upgrades, communities can minimize future damages and save lives,” concluded Ziqian Dong.

To Learn More:

To read the complete article as published by Scientific American, download a copy of How Cities Can Protect Themselves from Rising Waters

Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer

Developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer allows users to visualize community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise and provides easy access to inundation and elevation data via NOAA’s Digital Coast.

The data and maps in this tool illustrate the scale of potential flooding, not the exact location, and do not account for erosion, subsidence, or future construction.

Water levels are relative to Mean Higher High Water (MHHW).

To Learn More:

Visit https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/

Aerial view of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast. October 2012.