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Elliot Kim&Travis Martinus Geo176A Michael Alonzo September 9, 2013 Using GIS to Depict Future Sea Level Rise After Hurricane Sandy Following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the cities of New York and New Jersey had billions of dollars of damage. To avoid further costly damage, the two cities invested great amounts of time and money in association with groups such as NOAA, FEMA, USACE, and USGCRP in order to predict and prevent further disaster. In order to do this the combined forces used their data as well as GIS in order to create a map to visualize estimated affected areas of annual and periodic floods on the coast of New York and New Jersey.

The groups used data from their respective collections in order to compile an estimated map of future flooding. These maps used ArcGIS10, GEOPlatform, and NOAA explorer for easy online use by citizenry. The map tool allowed online users to use basic ArcGIS tools in order to view what the estimated affected areas would be in an easy accessible fashion. These tools can all be found as downloads in order to view the information. Data was compiled from many national and local services to create the most accurate scenario. The Corps of Engineer provided their existing sea level rise calculator to estimate future flood events in major disasters in periods of five years, from 2012 to 2100. New York City used their previously generated sea level scenarios for 2020 and 2050, which were intergraded into the map as well. NOAA provided a report that provided the data with most of the sea level rise information. The USGS also provided information on how future flooding events would affect the land itself. By combining the sea level rise tool with the information that the USGS is making public on shoreline rates of change and general beach data, a greater detailed depiction of future events is available for those
Sources http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/aug13/sandy-slr-tool.html http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment/coastal-resilience-resources Map for New York City http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=a70d62a2381541be96852075c595ac7b Map for the States of New York and New Jersey http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=3097fc32e98f490cbacc5405751938e9

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interested. The data and tools provided for the most accurate data that could be compiled for basic viewing.

The results of the joint effort created a well-developed map that provides a general view of what areas the predictions found could be affected. The map also provides the viewer with the
Sources http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/aug13/sandy-slr-tool.html http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment/coastal-resilience-resources Map for New York City http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=a70d62a2381541be96852075c595ac7b Map for the States of New York and New Jersey http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=3097fc32e98f490cbacc5405751938e9

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ability to go into an in-depth view of how the data was compiled and layered through the several GIS tools available. The map shows usefulness to the intended audience of the citizenry of New York and New Jersey as it shows the affected areas along the coastline of future sea rise events. The first map that is available for viewing is their general view of what can happen, which basically sweeps through the area depending on where the pointer is on the map image and shows the affected areas. This allows the user to view the original map and the affected areas of the map easily. The map used mash-ups between the maps of the general map of the New York and New Jersey areas and the maps of the predicted sea level rise. This innovative mash up allowed the user to see the general area that they were interested in and the estimated affected sections in their respective region. After initially finding the article on sea level rise in the NOAA network, the page shows various links to all the tools and data that they used to compile their information. This map that was created provided for a view into what areas may be affected if another natural disaster as destructive as Hurricane Sandy were to occur. This information provides the cities and its people with the necessary information to develop defenses and plans against future events. Overall the article did a great job in showing exactly what it wanted its audience to know. The tool provided all the information it used and was well developed in its presentation. This easy to use map should be viewed by all interested in future sea level rise information pertaining to the New York and New Jersey area.

Sources http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/aug13/sandy-slr-tool.html http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment/coastal-resilience-resources Map for New York City http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=a70d62a2381541be96852075c595ac7b Map for the States of New York and New Jersey http://www.geoplatform.noaa.gov/explorer/?open=3097fc32e98f490cbacc5405751938e9