Developing an automated open source system for coastal multi-hazard assessment and management of water resources in a changing climate - Based on the Coastal Hazard Wheel system

Abstract

Bangladesh, home to the biggest delta in the world, struggles with its immense population pressure and limited funds and institutional capacity. Often referred to as the “Ground Zero of Climate Change”, it is extremely vulnerable to rising sea water levels and more extreme climate patterns. A solid and sustainable coastal water management plan is vital.

UNEP developed the Coastal Hazard Wheel: a theoretical framework for performing coastal multi-hazard assessments and identifying possible water management solutions, especially designed for developing countries with limited resources and data availability. Its transparent method enables capacity building of local institutions, and supports coastal planners by identifying an overview of the coastal hazards and management options.

This study showed that the essence of the CHW framework can be captured in an automated GIS-model, requiring open source data only. The potential of the CHW as a planning/management tool should be sought in the exploration phase: to prioritize certain regions and to select a range of suitable measures which can be further investigated. A recommendation is made to include land use or economic interest as an input layer of the CHW, to further increase its potential for coastal policy making.