DEVELOPING NEW HAZARD VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITIES: THE CHALLENGES OF VARYING SPATIAL SCALES, PROCESSES, AND LANDSCAPES

The vulnerability of a given coastal region to sea level rise, shoreline erosion, and other coastal hazards can be challenging to characterize through existing qualitative and/or quantitative methods such as coastal vulnerability indices. Given differences of spatial scales and varying complexities of coastal geologic/biologic processes and frameworks, researchers are employing new technologies, higher resolution data and new modeling techniques to better assess vulnerability that can be applied at both local and regional scales. As research continues in this area of study, it is becoming increasingly important that results from these studies either incorporate, or, are compatible with social vulnerability studies to determine portions of the population at risk. Ultimately, it is of critical importance that results from these assessments are scientifically sound, defensible, and provide useful to data/outputs that can be incorporated into coastal management policies. Research conducted along Southeastern U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Island coastal zones over the past decade has provided many examples of challenges faced when assessing hazard vulnerability within this region. Along the Southeast U.S. coastal zone, attention is increasingly focusing estuarine shorelines in addition to oceanfront shores which historically have been the primary focus. Concerns of retreating shorelines and migrating coastal environments under current and proposed sea level regimes are a primary concern in some States. Likewise, future land and habitat loss are of major concerns for Caribbean Nations and their offshore developed and undeveloped cays. Methodologies employing AMBUR software, airborne and terrestrial LiDAR imagery, RTK-GPS surveys, and historical maps/imagery have greatly assisted with assessing coastal vulnerability within these areas.