8 Essential Online Mapping Tools for Analyzing Sea Level Rise and Flooding

As sea levels continue to rise, posing significant threats to coastal areas, professionals in landscape architecture, coastal design, and urban planning must utilize the best tools available to analyze and mitigate these risks. Whether you’re designing for coastal urban environments or researching climate impacts, these eight online mapping tools provide critical insights for your work.

1. NASA - Sea Level Projection Tool

• Website: NASA Sea Level Projection Tool
• Reason: This tool offers precise projections of future sea levels based on various climate scenarios, making it invaluable for landscape architects and urban designers focused on long-term coastal resilience.

2. NOAA - Sea Level Rise Viewer

• Website: NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
• Reason: NOAA’s Sea Level Rise Viewer allows users to visualize potential impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities, helping to inform sustainable coastal urban design and planning efforts.

3. Climate Central - Surging Seas

• Website: Climate Central Surging Seas
• Reason: This tool provides detailed maps showing how different levels of sea rise could affect coastal regions, making it essential for those engaged in landscape architecture and coastal design.

4. World Resources Institute - Aqueduct Floods

• Website: WRI Aqueduct Floods
• Reason: Aqueduct Floods by WRI offers a global perspective on coastal and riverine flood risks, helping professionals in landscape architecture assess vulnerabilities in their coastal projects.

5. NOAA - Historical Hurricane Tracks

• Website: NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracks
• Reason: This tool allows users to explore historical hurricane data and their impacts on coastal areas, which is critical for designing resilient coastal landscapes and infrastructure.

6. European Environment Agency - Climate Adapt

• Website: EEA Climate Adapt
• Reason: EEA’s platform offers resources on climate adaptation, including data on sea level rise and flooding, making it a key resource for European landscape architects and urban planners.

7. ThinkHazard

• Website: ThinkHazard
• Reason: ThinkHazard provides a quick overview of natural hazard risks, including flooding, helping professionals assess and plan for disaster resilience in coastal urban design projects.

8. Climate Central - Coastal Risk Screening Tool

• Website: Climate Central Coastal Risk Screening Tool
• Reason: This tool offers detailed projections of sea level rise and coastal flooding impacts, making it indispensable for those working in coastal design and landscape architecture.

Conclusion

Incorporating these online mapping tools into your projects can greatly enhance your ability to design resilient landscapes and urban environments that are prepared for the challenges posed by rising sea levels and increased flooding. These resources provide essential data and visualization capabilities to help you understand and address the risks.

For further insights and strategies on addressing sea level rise in landscape architecture, check out my book Landscape Architecture for Sea Level Rise: Innovative Global Solutions. This award-winning publication offers comprehensive approaches to designing for the future.