Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix - Rhode Island

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:

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Tool EMBED Climate Central
Surging Seas Risk Finder
 NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer

 NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management
Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper

 NOAA/National Weather Service/WFO Taunton
Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps

 Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and University of Rhode Island
STORMTOOLS
Tool   Surging Seas Risk Finder
Climate Central
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts Viewer
NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management
Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper
NOAA's Office for
Coastal Management
Coastal Hazard Portal and Inundation Maps
NOAA/National Weather Service/WFO Taunton
STORMTOOLS
Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and University of Rhode Island
10 GENERAL Geographic Scope Geographic extent the tool defines or covers (i.e. national, statewide, county…) 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) Coastal areas along Gulf of Mexico and East Coast Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal Rhode Island
10 GENERAL Link The URL or link where the tool can be accessed riskfinder.climatecentral.org coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr, coast.noaa.gov/slrdata/ coast.noaa.gov/floodexposure www.weather.gov/box/coastal www.beachsamp.org/resources/
stormtools/
10 GENERAL Description Brief 2-3 sentence description of the purpose of the tool. 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. 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. This tool is intended to help coastal decision makers respond to pending coastal hazard threats. This may include evacuation decisions and pre-staging of resources for road closures and post storm clean-up. 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.
10 GENERAL 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, floodplain managers, emergency managers, coastal scientists and engineers, general public Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, floodplain managers, emergency managers, general public Emergency managers, other coastal decision-makers, people living or working near enough to the shore to be at risk or have property at risk from coastal flooding Decision makers, planners, coastal managers, floodplain managers, emergency managers, coastal scientists and engineers, general public
10 GENERAL 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). Low Low Low to Medium Low Low
10 GENERAL 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. Maps, community analyses, wide area analysis comparisons, projections, downloads & reports Maps, sea level rise scenarios, photo simulations, flood frequency graphs Maps Time series tide forecasts, maps depicting inundation areas Maps, charts depicting siginicant wave heights
10 GENERAL Year Released Year the most current version of the tool was 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 2015 Updated 2015 Rolling: Updated periodically, but initial release was in Jan 2014
10 GENERAL Date Column Last Updated July 2016 April 2017 October 2015 November 2015 November 2015
10 GENERAL Top Three Strengths As succinctly as possible, list the top three strengths that make this tool unique. 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) 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 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). 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 and designs.
10 GENERAL Top Three Limitations As succinctly as possible, list the top three weaknesses or limitations that coastal planners or managers might encounter using this tool. 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) 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 1) The inundation mapping displays total static water level and does not incorporate contribution to inundation from waves. 2) One needs to refer to Coastal Flood Watch/Warning to know forecast total water level to use for map (future effort will be to default maps to forecast water level). 3) Specific tide forecasts and coastal impact category are only available for selected locations. 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.
10 GENERAL Point of Contact Please give a key contact for questions about the tool and its future development. Name and email address. Dan Rizza: drizza@climatecentral.org Adrianne Harrison: adrianne.harrison@noaa.gov or Jamie Carter: jamie.carter@noaa.gov Russell Jackson: russell.jackson@noaa.gov Jim Notchey: james.notchey@noaa.gov, Bob Thompson: robert.thompson@noaa.gov Teresa Crean: tcrean@crc.uri.edu
20 SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS 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. Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) MLLW and for inundation maps depth of water above ground NAVD88
20 SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Flood/Inundation Controls Method inundation or water levels are changed by the user (e.g. slider bar, radio buttons) 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. Users selects individual coastal flood hazards or composite flood hazards. Slider bar with 1 foot increments User clicks on and off the different scenarios they would like depicted on the map.
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Flood Layers Represented How are the inundation or flood level indicated on the map. Does the map use colors to show flooded areas? Blue - inundation; Hatched - low-lying but isolated Blue gradient - inundation depth; Green - low-lying areas 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 Colors used to depict various depths consistent with NHC real-time inundation maps 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.
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Uncertainty Represented Yes/No. Is uncertainty of the flood levels indicated on the map? No for elevation, yes for projections Yes No Not on map. Coastal Flood product displays ranges and text info No, Uncertainty is handled through use of 95% confidence interval value for water level return period.
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Way Uncertainty Represented If uncertainty is represented as indicated in the field above, then how is it represented? Briefly describe. 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. Surge and total water level forecasts in Coastal Flood Products (when watch, warning, or advisory in effect) depicted by ranges. Text of Coastal Flood Product may also describe uncertainty. 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.
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Projects local sea level rise 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 Yes, Scenario and Marsh tabs provide local relative SLR scenarios No No - more of a real time tool Yes, Based on NOAA/USACE projections for Providence and Newport, RI.
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS 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
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS 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 Yes No No
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Projection time periods assessed Include all years/periods for which projections are made. each decade 2020-2100 Yes out to 2100 current and 2100 No - more of a real time tool No
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Flood projections factor in changing frequency or intensity of storms Yes/No. Self-explanatory. Not applicable if flood projections not provided. No No No No No
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS 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
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS 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
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Factors in levees Yes/No. Factors levees into map and any analysis of vulnerable areas. Summarize methods if possible. Yes Yes, using FEMA base flood elevations. Yes if they are captured in LIDAR based elevation data Yes No. Not applicable in RI
20SLR AND FLOOD SCENARIOS Inundation Model Used Briefly and in as non-technical as possible, describe the modeling method 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. The various coastal flood hazard layers displayed are derived from different modeling methods. Refer to layer source information. Modified bathtub approach with use of connectivity tool. Downscaled output from coupled ADCIRC and STWAVE as applied by US ACE in the North Atlantic Comprehensive Coastal Study for tropical and extratropical storms
30EXPOSURE ANALYSIS 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 Yes no just overlay visualization of social and economic data No No - just area subject to inundation based on total water level selected No
30EXPOSURE ANALYSIS Exposure types tabulated Variables analyzed, such as land, housing, property value, population, roads, airports or other infrastructure >100 demographic, economic, environmental and infrastructure variables No No No No
30EXPOSURE ANALYSIS Designated areas for tabulation Geographic units within which exposure is tabulated, such as cities, counties, states or zip codes zip codes, cities, counties, states, local through federal legislative districts, planning districts, state agency districts No No No No
30EXPOSURE ANALYSIS Shows or lists individual exposed facilities or public infrastructure Yes/No. Tool is able to give the user output that would allow them to evaluate potential vulnerable facilities and/or public infrastructure. Output could be either a map, or a report/listing. Lists all facilities analyzed in tables for download. Shows select facilities and infrastructure on map. No Yes, through visualization overlays No - not directly Yes by GIS layer overlays
30EXPOSURE ANALYSIS 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) Yes No No No No
40SHORELINE PROCESSES 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) Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with flood risk Shallow (Nuisance) Coastal Flood Frequency See all flood datasets above Coastal flooding resulting from total water level chosen 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).
40SHORELINE PROCESSES Coastal Erosion Yes/No. Does the method used take coastal erosion processes into account? No No No No No
40SHORELINE PROCESSES Sediment Dynamics/Deposition Yes/No. Does the method used take coastal sediment dynamics and deposition into account? No No No No No
40SHORELINE PROCESSES Storm Events Yes/No. Does the method used take the impacts of future storm events into account? Fully integrated analysis of SLR projections with flood risk 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
40SHORELINE PROCESSES 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
40SHORELINE PROCESSES 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
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Basemap Options What types of base map(s) are used in the tool? (e.g. satellite imagery, topographic, streets, hybrid maps) Satellite, Streets Satellite, Open Streetmap, Dark Satellite, grey canvas Streets, satellite 12 options, including various forms of imagery, street, and topographic
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Main elevation data source Examples include LIDAR or National Elevation Dataset. Lidar Lidar Lidar Lidar Lidar
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Main elevation data source vertical accuracy Published error. Use maximum error, or accuracy standard, when different sub-datasets have different error. (same as NOAA) 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
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Horizontal resolution Dimension of elevation grid cell size. 5 Meters (~15 feet) 5 Meters (~15 feet) Varies across datasets. 1 meter The cell size for input data and inundation surfaces is 1 m (3.28 ft.)
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Other Available Data Layers Beyond the inundation/flooding layers, what other unique data layers are available? 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 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 FEMA 100 year velocity zones 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.
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Place name searchable Yes Yes No No Yes, address searchable
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Maximum Zoom-in What is the farthest in a user can zoom in with the tool? 1:4,500 Tile cached data to 1:18,055 Tile cached data to 1:18,055 Leaflet zoom level 18, approximatley 1:2000 20 m window
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Map Services Available Yes/No. Are the data layers in the tool available as map services that can be accessed by the public? No Yes Yes Yes Yes
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Data Download Available Yes/No. Are the data layers in the tool available for download by the public? Yes Yes No No Not yet. In progress ( Nov 2015)
50 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS If data download available, please list types If answered yes for Data Download Available, please list the layers that are available for download. 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 n/a In progress
50TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 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 Yes, ESRI Basemaps Yes, ESRI Basemaps, Esri Population Change Projections 2012-2017 Leaflet Yes, ESRI Basemaps and ArcGIS
50 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Additional Software Needed Yes/No. Does the user require additional software in order to use the tool? No No No No No
50 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 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
50 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Mobile Compatible Yes/No. Will the tool operate on any mobile platform (e.g. iPad, iPhone, Android)? On modern tablets/phones Yes, but not phones Yes Haven’t fully tested it yet. Yes
60 OTHER Training Requirements Does the tool require training before it can be used efficiently? None but support available as needed. None None No None but support available as needed.
60 OTHER Documentation, Training & Technical Resources Describe the types of documentation on tool methods and training resources available. 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 FAQs, data documentation, new training link to the tool that includes a pre-recorded detailed demonstration Still a work in progress STORMTOOLS for Beginners available at http://www.beachsamp.org/resources/stormtools/
60 OTHER Is the tool based on, or featured in, any peer-reviewed publication(s)? If so, please list. (INCLUDE LINKS IF AVAILABLE) Please list the peer-reviewed publications that the tool, or underlying model, has discussed and/or featured the tool. 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. None No Spaulding and Isaji, 2014. "Simplified Flood Inundation Maps, with Sea Level Rise, for RI" Available online at: www.beachsamp.org/the-science-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.
60 OTHER Costs Are there costs involved in using this tool? Does the user community bear any of the development cost directly? None None None None None
60 OTHER Are Future Versions Planned? Please describe if there are plans for future improvements to the tool. Yes Version 3.0 released in 2017 Future updates anticipated Yes Yes, to incorporate shoreline change and coastal processes, to develop a Coastal Environmental Risk Index, and to allow access via an app.