Coastal communities across the U.S. are increasingly vulnerable to flooding, but they often lack access to the tools and data needed to plan effective solutions. In this project, we worked with local planners, emergency managers, engineers, and residents in North Carolina to design better strategies for using green infrastructure—like wetlands, tree buffers, and open spaces—to reduce flood risk and improve community resilience.

We used satellite data and computer models to create maps that show where these nature-based solutions can have the most impact. But the real success came from working directly with the people who will use these tools. Through workshops and ongoing conversations, we turned scientific data into useful planning resources that communities can act on.

This work shows how science and technology can support real-world decisions when communities are included from the start. The tools and methods developed here can be used in other coastal areas facing similar challenges.