Unveiling Coastal Vulnerability Through Interactive StoryMaps

As part of my work with the iWERS research group at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, I have developed an interactive StoryMap that explains the importance, methodology, and findings of our study on coastal vulnerability.

Why a StoryMap?

While traditional research papers provide comprehensive details, they are often difficult for the general public and decision-makers to interpret. To bridge this gap, I created a StoryMap that presents our findings in an engaging, interactive format.

What You’ll Find in the StoryMap

🔹 The Significance of This Study

• Why understanding coastal vulnerability is critical for disaster preparedness and resilience.
• How socio-environmental factors play a key role in determining risk levels.

🔹 How Vulnerability Indices Are Calculated

• Explanation of the five key vulnerability categories:
  1. Biophysical Vulnerability
  2. Hydroclimate Vulnerability
  3. Socio-Economic Vulnerability
  4. Ecological Vulnerability
  5. Shoreline Vulnerability
• Breakdown of each contributing factor in the vulnerability assessment.
• Use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) techniques.

🔹 Interactive Vulnerability Maps

• Each of the five vulnerability indices is displayed in an interactive format, allowing users to explore different counties and zip codes.
• Users can compare how different factors impact vulnerability levels across South Carolina’s coastal regions.

Experience the StoryMap

The StoryMap is designed to make complex geospatial analysis accessible and engaging for researchers, policymakers, and the public.

Click here to explore the StoryMap

This interactive tool provides a new way to visualize and understand coastal vulnerability, making it a valuable resource for resilience planning and environmental management.

Would love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

📄 Reference: Original Research Paper