Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - New Jersey
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. For more information or to suggest additional web tools, visit the national matrix page.
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:
Tool |
EMBED |
Climate Central Surging Seas Risk Finder |
NOAA's Office for Coastal Management Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer |
The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience |
JC-NERR and Rutgers NJFloodMapper |
Rutgers Climate Institute NJADAPT Coastal Hazard Profiler |
NOAA's Office for Coastal Management Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tool | Surging Seas Risk Finder Climate Central |
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer NOAA's Office for Coastal Management |
Coastal Resilience The Nature Conservancy |
NJFloodMapper JC-NERR and Rutgers |
NJADAPT Coastal Hazard Profiler Rutgers Climate Institute |
Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper NOAA's Office for Coastal Management |
||
10 | GENERAL | Geographic Scope![]() |
Available for the entire contiguous coastal U.S. -- 22 states and Washington, D.C. -- with releases planned for HI and AK in the future. | National (with the exception of AK) | Expanding and now includes 14 U.S. coastal states (AL, CA, CT, FL, HI, LA, ME, MS, NJ, NY, NC, TX, VA, WA), the Caribbean (Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, U.S. Virgin Islands), and across Mexico and Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras). Also global and U.S. national web maps together form the Coastal Resilience network. | New Jersey | New Jersey | Coastal areas along Gulf of Mexico and East Coast |
10 | GENERAL | Link![]() |
riskfinder.climatecentral.org | coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr, coast.noaa.gov/slrdata/ | maps.coastalresilience.org | njfloodmapper.org | sugar.rutgers.edu | www.coast.noaa.gov/floodexposure |
10 | GENERAL | Description![]() |
Searchable web tool providing 1) maps users can customize, embed, & download; 2) downloads: spreadsheets, slideshow-ready tables & graphs, & fact sheets; 3) individual community analyses; 4) area comparisons; 5) local sea level & flood risk projections. 100+ demographic, economic & infrastructure variables analyzed for 1000s of communities from zip code to statewide levels. | Tool 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. | An online mapping tool customized for local and state decision makers showing potential impacts from sea level rise and coastal hazards designed to help communities develop and implement solutions that incorporate ecosystem-based adaptation approaches | This interactive mapping website is designed to provide a user-friendly visualization tool to get information into the hands of local communities who need to make decisions concerning flooding hazards and sea level rise. | The purpose of this mapping application is to provide a look at exposure to common types of coastal flooding at the scale of a municipality. The viewer is a screening-level tool that uses nationally consistent data sets and analyses. Provides access to municipal scale factsheets and map graphics. | A mapping viewer designed to help coastal communities start discussions about coastal flood hazard impacts with maps that show people, places, and natural resources exposed to coastal flooding. |
10 | GENERAL | Target Audience![]() |
Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, emergency managers, federal and state agencies, journalists and the general public | Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, floodplain managers, emergency managers, coastal scientists and engineers, general public | Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, emergency managers, coastal scientists and engineers | Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, emergency managers, federal and state agencies, journalists and the general public | Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, emergency managers, federal and state agencies, journalists and the general public | Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, floodplain managers, emergency managers, coastal scientists and engineers, general public |
10 | GENERAL | Skill Level![]() |
Low | Low to Medium | Low-Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
10 | GENERAL | Main Tool Outputs![]() |
Maps, community analyses, wide area analysis comparisons, projections, downloads & reports | Maps, sea level rise scenarios, photo simulations, flood frequency graphs | Maps (on-screen and pdf), Summary reports (on-screen), Bookmark links, Downloadable spatial data | Maps, photo simulations, flood frequency graphs | Maps, municipal analyses in both tabular, graphic and map form, wide area analysis comparisons, projections | Maps |
10 | GENERAL | Year Released![]() |
Rolling release starting Fall 2013 | 2011 Gulf of Mexico / 2012 US West and Mid-Atlantic Coasts / 2013 US NW, SW and Pacific Islands / 2014 Puerto Rico, USVI, NE / 2015 Louisianna | 2013 | Fall 2014 | Fall 2014 | 2015 |
10 | GENERAL | Date Column Last Updated | July 2016 | April 2017 | October 2014 | March 2015 | March 2015 | October 2015 |
10 | GENERAL | Top Three Strengths![]() |
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. | 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 customize local scenarios and visualize impacts of sea level rise at known locations. | 1) DESIGN: The tool has a modular, plugin architecture: Coastal Resilience “apps” can be developed by anyone and plugged into the web-based mapping platform. This allows developers to design a specific application to highlight a coastal management issue, respond to a disaster for post-storm decision making, or emphasize nature-based alternatives;... 2) PERFORMANCE: Coastal Resilience 2.0 runs faster; operates on tablets; works nationally and globally; is open source, and it’s easy to share results and data; 3) PARTNERSHIPS: Developed among core partners including The Nature Conservancy, University of Southern Mississippi, The Natural Capital Project, NOAA Coastal Services Center, and the Association of State Floodplain Managers | 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 but also locally relevant data; 3) Includes photos and allows users to viualize impacts of sea level rise at known locations. | 1) Comprehensive tool providing exposure analysis, comparisons, and projections, as well as an interactive map. 2) Municipal scale profiles that include tabular, graphic and maps. 3) Local projections combine sea level rise and storm surge to give integrated risk estimates for 2050 and 2100. | 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 |
10 | GENERAL | Top Three Limitations![]() |
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 storm surge, riverine flooding, erosion or other coastal processes; 2) Appropriate for use as a screening-level or planning tool allowing zoom in scale of approximately 1:18,055, but provides map services and data download for more in depth analysis. 3.) Includes fully enclosed federal levees as mapped by the USACE National Levee Database. Partially enclosed, regional, or local levees have been added in certain locations. | 1) ONLINE-ONLY: No ability to access the tools with limited or lack of connectivity; 2) USER-FRIENDLINESS: Not catered to general public, so training is requirement to engage stakeholders so they can fully utilize the tool and understand the data and analyses; 3) COMMUNICATIONS: With so many tools ... now available on the web, it is hard to decipher the niche and therefore use of this tool relative to others that address similar issues | 1) Inundation scenarios do not include coastal storm surge, erosion or other coastal processes; 2) Cannot customize outputs or load additional local inputs directly into the tool; 3) Appropriate for use as a screening-level or planning tool allowing zoom in scale of approximately 1:18,055; 4) No physical modeling of storm surge or waves on top of sea level rise. | 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) Limited number of variables; 3) No physical modeling of storm surge or waves on top of sea level rise. | 1) Cannot customize outputs or load additional local inputs directly into the tool; 2) Appropriate for use as a screening-level or planning tool allowing zoom in scale of approximately 1:18,055; 3) Changes or updates to source datasets will not be reflected in the tool until the next data update is completed |
10 | GENERAL | Point of Contact![]() |
Dan Rizza: drizza@climatecentral.org | Darlene Finch: darlene.finch@noaa.gov | Zach Ferdana: zferdana@tnc.org | Rick Lathrop: lathrop@crssa.rutgers.edu | Rick Lathrop: lathrop@crssa.rutgers.edu | Russell Jackson: russell.jackson@noaa.gov |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Base Sea Level Elevation![]() |
Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) | Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) | Total Water Levels - Wave run-up + tides | Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) | Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) | Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Flood/Inundation Controls![]() |
Slider bar with inundation delineated in 1 foot increments from 1 - 10 feet. Toggle button to 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. | Slider bar with inundation delineated in 1 foot increments from 0 - 6 feet. Scenarios Tab includes ability to view SLR scenarios by scenario or by year and compare to inunation layers to view impacts. | Choice of Current, 2030, 2060, & 2100 projections with choice of Low, Medium & High Sea Level Rise Projection Scenarios for each time horizon and a combination of 3 potential wave climate changes (no change, 500 year wave event, or a doubling of El Nino frequency) | Slider bar with inundation delineated in 1 foot increments from 1 - 6 feet | Drop-down with 1 foot increments from 1-3 feet | Users selects individual coastal flood hazards or composite flood hazards. |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Flood Layers Represented![]() |
Blue - inundation; Hatched - low-lying but isolated | Blue gradient - inundation depth; Green - low-lying areas | Tidal inundation, wave impact, flood inundation, river flood inundation | Blue - inundation; Green - low-lying areas | Varying color scheme to show depth of inundation; applies the NWS color scheme | FEMA flood Zones (1%, 0.2%, V-Zones), Category 3 hurricane storm surge zones (SLOSH MOMs), 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 |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Uncertainty Represented![]() |
No for elevation, yes for projections | Yes | In future version, analysis completed; layers currently under development | Yes | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Way Uncertainty Represented![]() |
Map does not represent uncertainty in elevation values. However, projection tool presents different sea level rise models and scenarios, and reflects uncertainty information as available for these. | Confidence is noted as High vs. Low, so the areas not highlighted as high or low indicate a high confidence of not being inundated: " . . . the blue areas denote locations that may be 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." | see above | Confidence is noted as High vs. Low, so the areas not highlighted as high or low indicate a high confidence of not being inundated: "...the blue areas denote locations that may be correctly mapped as "inundated" more than 8 out of 10 times. Areas with low confidence represent location that may be mapped correctly (either as innundated or dry) less than 8 out of 10 times." | ||
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Projects local sea level rise![]() |
Yes | Yes, Scenario and Marsh tabs provide local relative SLR scenarios | Yes | No | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Projects future flood elevations![]() |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes, 2050 scenario for FEMA SFHA | Yes, within the Coastal Flood Exposure Index | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Projects future flood risk at fixed
elevations![]() |
Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes, within the Coastal Flood Exposure Index | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Projection time periods assessed![]() |
each decade 2020-2100 | Yes out to 2100 | Current, 2030, 2060, 2100 | No | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Flood projections factor in changing
frequency or intensity of storms![]() |
No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Allows choice of projection
scenarios/models![]() |
Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Shows levees![]() |
Yes | Yes - Links to USACE NLD | Yes | No | No | No |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Factors in levees![]() |
Yes | Yes, using FEMA base flood elevations. | Yes | Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based elevation data | Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based elevation data | Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based elevation data |
20 | SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS | Inundation Model Used![]() |
Modified bathtub approach, modeling hydrologic connectivity and locally adjusted Mean Higher High Water levels. | Modified bathtub approach, modeling hydraulic connectivity and locally adjusted Mean Higher High Water levels. | HEC-GeoRAS tool in ArcGIS outputs for river flooding , FEMA overtopping model used results projected against topographic surface composite | Modified bathtub approach, modeling hydraulic connectivity and locally adjusted Mean Higher High Water levels. | Modified bathtub approach, modeling hydraulic connectivity and locally adjusted Mean Higher High Water levels. | The various coastal flood hazard layers displayed are derived from different modeling methods. Refer to layer source information. |
30 | EXPOSURE ANALYSIS | Tabulates exposure within designated areas![]() |
Yes | no just overlay visualization of social and economic data | Can be queried using existing GIS tools | No | Yes | No |
30 | EXPOSURE ANALYSIS | Exposure types tabulated![]() |
>100 demographic, economic, environmental and infrastructure variables | No | No | No | Yes | No |
30 | EXPOSURE ANALYSIS | Designated areas for tabulation![]() |
zip codes, cities, counties, states, local through federal legislative districts, planning districts, state agency districts | No | User defined | No | Municipality | No |
30 | EXPOSURE ANALYSIS | Shows or lists individual exposed facilities or public infrastructure![]() |
Lists all facilities analyzed in tables for download. Shows select facilities and infrastructure on map. | No | Different data layers can be viewed with hazards to determine individual exposed facilities or public infrastrucuture | Yes, through visualization | Yes, through visualization and summarizes by type by municipality | Yes, through visualization overlays |
30 | EXPOSURE ANALYSIS | Compares exposure across designated areas![]() |
Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Other Flooding Scenarios Modeled![]() |
Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with flood risk | Shallow (Nuisance) Coastal Flood Frequency | Wave impact and river flood inundation | Shallow Coastal Flood Frequency, SLOSH | Shallow Coastal Flood Frequency, SLOSH | See all flood datasets listed above |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Coastal Erosion![]() |
No | No | Yes - acceleration of coastal erosion | No | Yes, the NJ Coastal Vulnerability Index takes into account erosion vulnerability | No |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Sediment Dynamics/Deposition![]() |
No | No | Yes - indirect accounting of coastal sediment budget, sediment yield from watersheds calcuated | No | No | No |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Storm Events![]() |
Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with flood risk | No | Yes - wave impact, flood inundation and river flood inundation (large storm) | No | Yes, the NJ Coastal Flood Exposure assessment takes into account FEMA FIRM and SLOSH modified by SLR | No |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Habitat/Species Change![]() |
No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
40 | SHORELINE PROCESSES | Marsh Migration![]() |
No | Yes | Future scenarios analyzed using SLAMM for tidal influenced wetlands | Yes | Yes | No |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Basemap Options![]() |
Satellite, Streets | Satellite, Open Streetmap, Dark | Topographic, National Geographic, Ocean, Imagery, Physical, Shaded Relief, Streets, Terrain | Satellite, Streets, Topo | Satellite, Streets | Satellite, grey canvas |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Main elevation data source![]() |
Lidar | Lidar | 2009 – 2011 California Coastal Conservancy Coastal LiDAR Project Hydro-Flattened Bare Earth DEM | Lidar | Lidar | Lidar |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Main elevation data source vertical
accuracy![]() |
(same as NOAA) | NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE | (+/-) 9cm | NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE | NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE | NOAA/USGS specs 9.25cm RMSE |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Horizontal resolution![]() |
5 Meters (~15 feet) | 5 Meters (~15 feet) | (+/-) 1 meter | 5 Meters (~15 feet) | 5 Meters (~15 feet) | Varies across datasets. |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Other Available Data Layers![]() |
On map: Social Vulnerability, Population Density, Ethnicity, Income, Property, Landmarks. In analysis and comparison tools: about 100 population and infrastructure variables. | Flood Frequency, Social and Economic Vulnerability at Census block groups, Marsh Impacts, Photo visualizations of key landmarks | Infrastructure, Land Use/Zoning, Natural Resources, Socieconomic data | Flood Frequency, Social and Economic Vulnerability at Census block groups, critical infrastructure, Marsh Impacts, Photo visualizations of key landmarks | Flood Frequency, Social and Economic Vulnerability at Census block groups, Critical infrastructure, Marsh Impacts | Population density, poverty density, elderly 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 |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Place name searchable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Maximum Zoom-in![]() |
1:4,500 | Tile cached data to 1:18,055 | Tile cached data to 1:5,000 | Tile cached data to 1:18,055 | Tile cached data to 1:4,500 | Tile cached data to 1:18,055 |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Map Services Available![]() |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Data Download Available![]() |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | If data download available, please list
types![]() |
Summary tables and detailed lists in Excel for 100+ demographic, economic, infrastructure and environmental variables, tabulated by state, county, municipality, zip code, planning and legislative districts, & more | Inundation, confidence, shallow coastal flooding, SOVI, and DEMs, and Marsh migration upon request | Various | Inundation, confidence, shallow coastal flooding, SOVI, and DEMs but sends to NOAA for user to download from authoritative government source | Summary tables, graphics and maps for selected coastal municipalities | |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Does tool use other map services?![]() |
No | Yes, ESRI Basemaps | FEMA, NOAA, USGS, UNISDR | Yes, ESRI Basemaps | Yes, ESRI Basemaps | Yes, ESRI Basemaps, Esri Population Change Projections 2012-2017 |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Additional Software Needed![]() |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Cross Platform![]() |
Yes (modern browsers) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
50 | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | Mobile Compatible![]() |
On modern tablets/phones | Yes, but not phones | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
60 | OTHER | Training Requirements![]() |
None but support available as needed. | None | None but suggested | None | None | None |
60 | OTHER | Documentation, Training & Technical
Resources![]() |
Research papers for each state, FAQs, methodologies, tutorials | FAQs, methodologies, and related technical documents; brief "First Time Tips" video; 56-minute recorded webinar, In-person or online training available upon request | Video tutorials for: General Navigation; Scenario Planning; video simulations for apps including Flood & Sea Level Rise, Coastal Defense and Risk Explorer. Metadata and methods documented and accessible within the tool. Associated website for FAQ and project information | FAQs, methodologies, and related technical documents; | FAQs, methodologies, and related technical documents; | FAQs, data documentation, new training link to the tool that includes a pre-recorded detailed demonstration |
60 | OTHER | Is the tool based on, or featured in, any
peer-reviewed publication(s)? If so, please list (INCLUDE LINKS IF AVAILABLE)![]() |
Based on Strauss et al 2012 and Tebaldi et al 2012, Environmental Research Letters. Featured 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. | 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. | Yes, various publications listed here | Lathrop, R., L. Auermuller, J. Trimble, and J. Bognar. 2014. The Application of WebGIS Tools for Visualizing Coastal Flooding Vulnerability and Planning for Resiliency: The New Jersey Experience. ISPRS Int J of Geo-Information 3:408-429. | None | |
60 | OTHER | Costs![]() |
None | None | Free of charge. Open source code for the tool framework and individual apps are available under a GNU General Public License, version 3 agreement at https://github.com/CoastalResilienceNetwork | None | None | None |
60 | OTHER | Are Future Versions Planned?![]() |
Yes | Version 3.0 released in 2017 | Yes. Tool framework https://github.com/CoastalResilienceNetwork/GeositeFramework being upgraded on GitHub in 2015-2016 as well as individual browser-based apps (Coastal Resilience 3.0) | Future updates anticipated | Future updates anticipated | Future updates anticipated |