coastal adaptation & innovation
From helping communities plan for coastal storms, to bringing together design professionals to hear about the newest nature-based flood solutions, and improving living shoreline designs or evacuation communication — our fellows and extension help coastal communities thrive.
preparing virginia's waterfronts for the coming storm
Virginia Sea Grant supports established collaborations as well as new or emerging collaborations that respond to dynamic challenges. Recent projects include:
- The Virginia Coastal Resilience & Adaptation Ecosystem would establish long-term, public-private innovation and R&D capacity to meet short-term, immediate needs for adapting shorelines, landscaping, buildings, and open water features. It also ensures long-term economic development opportunities by designing, building, and testing waterfront property solutions for problems experienced by the next generation. Learn more at wateradaptationeconomy.org
- The Hampton Roads Adaptation Forum convenes architects, engineers, scientific researchers, planners, nonprofits, and government staff to exchange information and share best practices in coastal adaptation
- The Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT), which allows localities to assess and improve their local resilience through a scorecard and technical assistance with priority projects
- Research on the evacuation behaviors and risk perceptions of college students in coastal communities, with the goal of improving emergency communication
The Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT), allows localities to assess and improve their local resilience through a scorecard and technical assistance with priority projects
Innovation and Design
Virginia Sea Grant develops effective, scientifically sound solutions to Virginia’s flooding challenges. Recent and ongoing projects include:
- The $1 Million Collaborative Research Challenge partners university research capacity with the private sector to foster collaborative R&D that assesses both the impact an innovation has on improving adaptation and resilience of a coastal waterfront property, and validates the full extent of a business products’ performance.
- Research to optimize living shoreline design
- A GO Virginia grant to foster innovation and growth in Virginia’s water economy through a resilience entrepreneurship competition and a business-focused network.
- Internships and fellowships that place architectural and engineering students hands-on experience working at resilience design firms.
Legal and Policy
Our extension partners at the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the William & Mary Law School bring a policy perspective to coastal issues. They provide legal and policy support for communities, planners, non-government organizations, and the seafood industry. Projects include:
- Whitepapers that provide insight to issues like recurrent flooding, waterfront property rights, septic systems, marine debris, and water pollution, and compare policy examples from around the U.S.
- The Virginia Coastal Policy Center’s annual conference, which covers legal and policy aspects of resilience for an audience of coastal planners, local government officials, state agencies, legislators, nonprofits, and other stakeholders.
- Assistance for the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT), which allows localities to assess and improve their local resilience through a scorecard and technical assistance with priority projects
- Workshops that provide an overview of flood mapping tools and scientific informational portals for local planners.
