A need for risk management
Sea level is rising around the world. Higher temperatures are expected to further raise sea level by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers and small ice caps, and causing portions of Greenland and the Antarctic ice sheets to melt. In many areas, storm surges are more frequent and intense. This, coupled with sea level rise, has greatly increased the risk of significant damage due to coastal flooding.
Rising sea level inundates wetlands and other low-lying lands, erodes shorelines, intensifies flooding, and increases the salinity of rivers, bays, and groundwater tables. In areas of the world where low coastal topography and high-density human population collide there is elevated risk for significant environmental, social and economic losses from long term sea level rise and storm surges.
Present tools in the market place are either aimed at the science community for very specific purposes, or focus on segmented portions of the overall puzzle for effectively managing coastal zones.
The Coastal Decision Support System is an integrated solution for risk assessment and mitigation for the insurance, real estate and financial industries, as well as engineering firms and municipalities to effectively manage their land base.