The Coastal Resilience decision support system includes a visualization platform where ecological, social, and economic information can be viewed alongside sea level rise and storm surge scenarios in specific geographies. In addition, a modular, configurable plugin architecture allows specific geographies to have apps designed specifically for geo-processing and display. These cater to the needs of stakeholders, policies and planning processes. Apps are used to simplify complex relationships or models, convey a specific ecological or social concept, or used to compare different future condition scenarios.

The Coastal Resilience approach includes four critical elements:

• Assess Risk and Vulnerability to coastal hazards through community input and tools that include alternative scenarios for current and future storms and sea level rise.
• Identify Solutions for reducing vulnerability that focus on collaborative efforts across social, economic, and ecological systems.
• Take Action help communities develop and implement solutions.
• Measure Effectiveness of efforts to reduce disaster risks and apply ecosystem-based adaptation.

Community Rating System Explorer app

Among the many apps available within the Coastal Resilience Decision Support Tool is the Community Rating System (CRS) Explorer. This app helps planners identify areas that are eligible for Open Space Preservation (OSP) credits in FEMA’s Community Rating System, a voluntary program that encourages improved floodplain management through discounted flood insurance premiums, and provides exportable information to support the application process. The app was initially piloted in eight communities in North Carolina and due to  increased demand for CRS tools, the app is steadily gaining popularity nationwide.