Interweaving ecology and architecture for integrated disaster management | Guy Nordenson

TL;DR

Inadequate coastal protections and disappearing wetlands have left coastal communities vulnerable to hurricanes. Design and science-based strategies, such as offshore attenuation and ecological engineering, can enhance resilience and adaptation.

Transcript

the safety and resilience of our coastal community communities is not what it should be both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in hurricane sandy in 2012 taught us a number of important lessons our coastal protections are inadequate and weak in many places the natural protection provided by wetlands is disappearing and in many places as well I've tried to ... Read More

Key Insights

• ✳️ Coastal communities are at risk due to inadequate coastal protections and disappearing wetlands.
• 🎨 Design strategies, such as offshore attenuation and ecological engineering, can enhance coastal resilience and adaptation.
• 💁 Global circulation models and probabilistic estimates of hurricanes inform the development of coastal flood hazard maps.

Questions & Answers

Q: How have past hurricanes influenced the development of coastal resilience and adaptation strategies?

Hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy have revealed the inadequacy of coastal protections and the loss of natural wetlands. These events have prompted the development of designs that incorporate offshore attenuation, ecological engineering, and on-land planning for enhanced resilience and adaptation.

Q: What role does science play in developing these strategies?

Science, particularly global circulation models and probabilistic estimates of hurricanes, is essential in understanding the impact of sea level rise and developing accurate coastal flood hazard maps. This scientific knowledge informs the design strategies and frames the questions that need to be addressed.

Q: Can you provide an example of a community that has benefited from these strategies?

Chelsea Heights in Atlantic City, a low-income and vulnerable community, was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Strategies developed for Chelsea Heights included raising roads, incorporating utilities, developing wetlands, and creating canals for flood defense and wetland nourishment. These strategies aim to enhance community resilience and improve economic conditions.

Q: How is the dynamic nature of hazards considered in these strategies?

Dynamic performance-based design approaches are implemented, which account for the changing hazard over time. By using matrices and snapshots, it becomes possible to monitor the evolution of the design, implementation, and the impact of changing hazards. This approach allows for more effective planning and adaptation strategies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy highlighted the insufficient coastal protections and disappearing wetlands, emphasizing the need for improved resilience strategies.

• The speaker has developed designs that incorporate offshore attenuation, ecological engineering, and on-land planning to address these issues.

• The work has led to projects and strategies, such as the Structures of Coastal Resilience, which combine advanced science and design strategies to enhance coastal communities' adaptation and resilience.