Research

Understanding coastal flood risk forms the foundation for effective coastal community planning, especially in the era of climate change and sea-level rise. Risk assessments that identify which populations, infrastructure, and assets could potentially face coastal flood impacts —and quantify the magnitude of these impacts— are crucial for communities in order to establish the critical baseline knowledge needed to design targeted interventions and manage risk. These assessments guide the development of strategic measures and solutions, enabling more effective allocation of resources and implementation of initiatives tailored to specific community needs and conditions.

The Future Coasts Lab (fcl) conducts research aimed at advancing how coastal flood risk assessments are implemented and enhancing the practical usage of risk information. Our research is based on the latest advances in global climate and sea level modeling. We employ statistical downscaling techniques to project future coastal flood hazards, while we also work on efficient, yet accurate, flood inundation mapping methodologies to evaluate exposure patterns. We additionally integrate empirical evidence and engineering expertise to assess vulnerabilities of people, infrastructure, and assets. Further, we investigate comprehensive approaches to coastal flood risk management, both from an engineering and a community perpective, encompassing nature-based solutions as well as conventional coastal defense structures.