Assessing the costs of sea-level rise and extreme flooding at the local level: A GIS-based approach

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 59; pp. 47 - 62
• Main Authors: Lichter, Michal, Felsenstein, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: at-risk population; capital; Capital stock; cities; Coastal zone management; coasts; Cost; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; geographic information systems; Geomorphology, landform evolution; Israel; Jurisdiction; land use; Land utilization; Marine and continental quaternary; mechanics; Ocean; Planners; Planning; Population; rural communities; sea level; Surficial geology; towns; Israel; Middle East; Asia; coupling; planning; coastal zone; cost; land use; inundations; geographic information systems; Natural hazards; populations; frame structure; sea level; stocks
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.12.020

This paper presents a systematic framework for assessing the costs of sea-level rise (SLR) and extreme flooding at the local level. The method is generic and transferable. It is built on coupling readily available GIS capabilities with quantitative estimates of the effects of natural hazards. This allows for the ex ante monetization of the main costs related to different scenarios of permanent inundation and periodic flooding. This approach can be used by coastal zone planners to generate vital information on land use, capital stock and population at risk for jurisdictions of different sizes. The simple mechanics of the method are presented with respect to two examples: one relates to the two largest coastal cities in Israel (Tel Aviv and Haifa) and the other to the Northern Coastal Strip region containing a variety of small towns and rural communities. The paper concludes with implications for coastal zone planning praxis. ► The paper presents a systematic method for assessing the costs of coastal flooding at the local level. ► The method combines readily available GIS capabilities with estimates of natural hazards effects. ► The transferable method allows the ex ante monetization of costs of different flooding scenarios. ► Coastal planners can generate information on assets and population at risk in their jurisdictions.