Matthew Hatami

Matthew Hatami

He/Him/His

Graduate Student at University of South Carolina, Developing flood early warning systems using machine learning and computer vision algorithms on satellite imagery, making fusion of satellite data and on-ground sensors.

Transfer Learning in Remote Sesning Data

Exploring Coastal Vulnerability: An Interactive Dashboard

As part of our research group at iWERS, within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Carolina, my colleagues have published a study on integrated socio-environmental vulnerability assessment of coastal hazards. While their original paper presents vulnerability maps as raster files, I have adapted these results into an interactive dashboard that simplifies interpretation and enhances accessibility.

Why This Dashboard?

Understanding vulnerability at a granular level is crucial for decision-making. Raster files provide detailed spatial information, but they can be challenging for non-experts to interpret. To bridge this gap, I have aggregated raster values over zip code areas, making it easier to comprehend and analyze regional vulnerability patterns.

Key Features of the Dashboard

  1. User-Friendly Selection
    • Start by choosing a county.
    • Then, select a zip code within the chosen county.
  2. Vulnerability Indices & Maps
    • View computed vulnerability indices for different risk factors.
    • Explore maps that visualize the aggregated vulnerability across different zip codes.
  3. Data-Driven Insights
    • The dashboard leverages multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) to provide a comprehensive vulnerability assessment.

Methodology in Brief

This dashboard builds upon the methodology outlined in the paper:

  • Vulnerability is assessed using five key groups: biophysical, hydroclimate, socio-economic, ecological, and shoreline factors.
  • Traditional raster-based results are spatially aggregated using zip code boundaries for easier comparison.
  • The entropy weighting technique is used to minimize bias in assigning importance to different vulnerability factors.

Try It Yourself

I have embedded the dashboard into this blog, making it accessible to anyone interested in exploring coastal vulnerability in South Carolina.

Click here to explore the dashboard

By making these findings more accessible, I hope this tool will support planners, policymakers, and local communities in better understanding and mitigating coastal vulnerability.

Let me know your thoughts! Feedback is always welcome.

📄 Reference: Original Research Paper

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