Issue 1 - March 2008
Dear ...,
Creating Resilient Communities is proud to launch our new website which can be found at: http://resilient-communities.org. You will find information on the project and the tri-country region as well as related resources including a collection of publications related to water quality and hazard planning.
The Local Implementation team is coordinating public outreach in the tri-county region, facilitating local communication between teams and managing media relations for the project. Our goal is to educate stakeholders about the project’s purpose and importance and to develop ways to engage the local population in planning processes. Most of our attention has been focused on a few key outreach brochures and facilitating initial meetings and events. Some of our key accomplishments to date are:
.
We have been brainstorming some creative and interactive ways to get everyone excited about this project and we hope to showcase more of them in the coming months. Read more >>
Data Modeling and Scenario Development
The Data Modeling and Scenario Development Team is setting up the GIS-based tools that will be used to study alternative futures. Our goal is to present information in a people-friendly way that will help stakeholders and the public make informed decisions.
Our team of modeling experts from all over the country has been having formal conference calls once a month since December, with lots of work going on in between. So far we have made good progress on designing our overall approach and collecting GIS and other data we will need. Our next step is going to be setting up a trial analysis with data from a small sample area to ensure everything works before we start analyzing the entire region.
Our analysis will be using CommunityViz software to create hypothetical scenarios, organize information, and form a framework for collaboration and discussion. The software gives us maps, graphs, 3-D models and other tools for easily presenting information and shows the effects of different decisions on the region's future building and growth.
We will plug in additional science and planning models to tell us important information about particular topics like coastal hazards (HAZUS and SLOSH), sea level rise, and habitat protection (NatureServe Vista and The Nature Conservancy's eco-regional assessment).
A big part of our work is centered on applying the methodology of NOAA-CSC's "Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool" (CVAT) in the context of CommunityViz. Following CVAT's model, we will identify and weight hazards (like storm surge and erosion) and assets (like housing, roads, and habitat), and then overlay them to find areas of vulnerability. We will then be able to compare scenarios and look at mitigation steps that could be taken. Read more >>
Creating Resilient Communities is proud to launch our new website which can be found at: http://resilient-communities.org. You will find information on the project and the tri-country region as well as related resources including a collection of publications related to water quality and hazard planning.
Project Team Updates
Local ImplementationThe Local Implementation team is coordinating public outreach in the tri-county region, facilitating local communication between teams and managing media relations for the project. Our goal is to educate stakeholders about the project’s purpose and importance and to develop ways to engage the local population in planning processes. Most of our attention has been focused on a few key outreach brochures and facilitating initial meetings and events. Some of our key accomplishments to date are:
.
- Helping to create a project website: http://resilient-communities.org and our e-newsletters
- Creation of an introductory brochure which can be found/will be available on our website
- Setting up meetings in January with all local stakeholders including municipal and county officials, technical team partners and land conservation organizations
- Developing Public and Stakeholder education materials including an online collection of water quality and hazard preparation materials
- Planning an EBM tools Expo featuring the project (more details to come in March)
We have been brainstorming some creative and interactive ways to get everyone excited about this project and we hope to showcase more of them in the coming months. Read more >>
Data Modeling and Scenario Development
The Data Modeling and Scenario Development Team is setting up the GIS-based tools that will be used to study alternative futures. Our goal is to present information in a people-friendly way that will help stakeholders and the public make informed decisions.
Our team of modeling experts from all over the country has been having formal conference calls once a month since December, with lots of work going on in between. So far we have made good progress on designing our overall approach and collecting GIS and other data we will need. Our next step is going to be setting up a trial analysis with data from a small sample area to ensure everything works before we start analyzing the entire region.
Our analysis will be using CommunityViz software to create hypothetical scenarios, organize information, and form a framework for collaboration and discussion. The software gives us maps, graphs, 3-D models and other tools for easily presenting information and shows the effects of different decisions on the region's future building and growth.
We will plug in additional science and planning models to tell us important information about particular topics like coastal hazards (HAZUS and SLOSH), sea level rise, and habitat protection (NatureServe Vista and The Nature Conservancy's eco-regional assessment).
A big part of our work is centered on applying the methodology of NOAA-CSC's "Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool" (CVAT) in the context of CommunityViz. Following CVAT's model, we will identify and weight hazards (like storm surge and erosion) and assets (like housing, roads, and habitat), and then overlay them to find areas of vulnerability. We will then be able to compare scenarios and look at mitigation steps that could be taken. Read more >>
Recent Meetings
- Minutes from BCDCOG Land Use and Planning Committee: View Online >>
- Dorchester County’s Comp Plan including the update presentation to the Chamber of Commerce on January 2nd: View Online >>
- American Planning Association Web Conference on Wed. March 5th: Design Guidelines for Small Towns and Rural Communities—4-5:30pm at BCD COG conference room (1362 McMillan Ave., Suite 100, North Charleston, 29405)
Related news articles
- NPR: In a Strategic Reversal, Dutch Embrace Floods View Online >>
- Post and Courier: Sullivan's takes fresh look at comprehensive plan View Online >>
- NPR: Stronger But Fewer Storms May Loom on Horizon View Online >>
- Post and Courier: School wins award for photo-essay View Online >>
Related publications:
- Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices View Online >>
- Water Quality and You View Online >>
- Wetlands: Essential for Wildlife Habitat, Improving Water Quality and Providing Flood Protection View Online >>
- A Guide to Marine Pump-Out Stations in Coastal South Carolina View Online >>
