Coastal Vulnerability Atlas

COASTAL VULNERABILITY ATLAS:

Identifying Climate Change Drivers, Hazards, and Impacts

in Texas’ Coastal Bend Region.

TEAM

Oswald Jenewein (PI)

Assistant Professor, School of Architecture

College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs

Michelle Hummel (Co-PI)

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering

Karabi Bezboruah (Co-PI)

Associate Professor, Department of Public Affairs and Planning

College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs

Keywords:

Climate Change Adaptation, Vulnerable Communities, Environmental Injustice,

Sustainable Cities, Urban Ecology

Summary:

This grant proposal seeks to identify climate change vulnerability drivers, their associated hazards, and the impacts they cause. Texas’ Coastal Bend Region is utilized as a case-study to ground this generic topic locally, highlighting major zones of environmental injustice. As an interdisciplinary study linking architecture, civil engineering, and public policy, this project investigates climate change impacts on the natural, cultural, and built environment to comprehensively assess the most significant hazards that put vulnerable coastal communities at risk. Following a participatory mixed-methods approach, this study will summarize the findings in a project report and a website, the Coastal Vulnerability Atlas, which is intended to serve as a climate adaptation guide for communities, organizations, and stakeholders along the Texas Coast.

Graduate Assistants:

Scott Bojanowski

Adan Hernandez Salazar