A Web-Based Interactive Decision-Support Tool for Adaptation of Coastal Urban and Natural Ecosystems (ACUNE) in Southwest Florida
Implementing Organization
University of Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$995,487
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 4: NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Monitoring and Observations
Targeted Resources
Wetlands/Marshes/Estuaries
Project Description
Southwest Florida contains the largest area of tidally influenced public lands in the Gulf of Mexico and the fastest growing urban landscape in Florida. Both the human and natural components of the ecosystem are under increasing risk due to the threats of a growing human population, sea level rise, and tropical cyclones. Dr. Sheng and his colleagues, working with local governments, will develop a decision-support tool to aid resource managers with preservation and restoration of mangrove, marsh, and beach habitats and adaptation of water management efforts to mitigate future salt water intrusion in estuaries and their associated habitats. This will be accomplished in two steps. First, a suite of coupled state-of-the-art models will be used to create inundation, salinity distribution, habitat distribution, beach and barrier islands vulnerability, and economic impact maps for current and future climates and for various sea level rise scenarios specific to the region. The researchers will then integrate the maps into an Adaptation of Coastal Urban and Natural Ecosystems (ACUNE) web-based interactive decision-support tool that enables users to identify areas of high vulnerability in many layers of interest. This information will be useful for strategic coastal resiliency planning. To ensure the tools use, end-users will be consulted during its development and trained on how to use the tool.
Contact
Y. Peter Sheng352-392-9537 x1521
pete@coastal.ufl.edu
Project Website
US Geological Survey (USGS), The Institute of Regional Conservation
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