Coastal Hazard Wheel

The Coastal Hazard Wheel is a tool for combined multi-hazard assessment and management of coastal areas worldwide under a changing climate. The tool can be used for determining the characteristics of a particular coastline and for producing hazard maps for ecosystem disruption, gradual inundation, saltwater intrusion, erosion and flooding. It also provides guidance on relevant hazard management measures.

The Coastal Hazard Wheel

Free keywords

Coastal hazards, multi-hazard assessment, management measures, stakeholder engagement

Readiness for use

Tool broadly used

Applications

The Coastal Hazard Wheel was initially presented in 2012 and has since then been refined and developed into a complete hazard management tool, based on a range of test-applications and feedback from coastal experts. 30 applications are documented on the website, including three regions in Europe (Malta, Portugal and Denmark).

More detailed information can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569117301552 (Malta)
https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-coastal-research/volume-35/issue-3/JCOASTRES-D-18-00083.1/Coastal-Hazard-Assessments-for-Sandy-Coasts--Appraisal-of-Five/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-18-00083.1.short (Portugal) https://www.coastalhazardwheel.org/denmark-map/ (Denmark)

Strengths and weaknesses, comparative added value to other similar tools

Strengths:
(+) The Coastal Hazard Wheel provides a universal framework for coastal management and adaptation
(+) The tool can be used for hazard screening and management at local, regional and national level
(+) The tool is suited for locations where data availability or institutional capacity is limited
(+) The tool can be used for coastal adaptation analysis and guidance, master planning, as a structured approach to coastal adaptation, multi-hazard assessments, stakeholder engagement, as well as training and education
(+) The tool is user-friendly, no login or software download is required and the handling is easy.

Weaknesses:
(-) The tool builds on a conceptual framework for the world’s coasts with associated simplifications.
(-) The accuracy of the coastal classification, hazard assessment and management guidance depends on the accuracy of the currently available input data.
(-) Since the tool is a management framework, it should be supplemented with more detailed modelling and analysis before implementation of specific management measures.

Integration:
The Coastal Hazard Wheel can be combined with more detailed analysis or modelling tools and can function as a unifying framework for different analysis, modelling and planning considerations

Input(s)

The tool provides results for coastlines across the globe. Various spatial datasets are integrated into the tool, and it is not needed to upload any data to use the tool. However, the integration of additional national datasets is possible, please see ”Replicability”.

Output(s)

The tool displays information on climate hazard profile, risk parameters and relevant hazard management measures for a selected coastal location. Moreover, it can be used for producing hazard maps for the hazards of ecosystem disruption, gradual inundation, saltwater intrusion, erosion and flooding under the predicted changes in global climate over the coming decades.

Replicability: Cost/effort for (new) usage

The coastal classification is based on global datasets and can deviate from the local situation. If you want to use special national datasets, please contact the coordination office.

Materials or other support available

Website and maintenance

Coastal Hazard Wheel

The tool will be continuously updated as various data, automation and AI components are added.

Contact

lracoastalhazardwheel [dot] org (lra[at]coastalhazardwheel[dot]org)

Associated project(s)

Coastal Hazard Wheel initiative