Background

Predictive Mapping of Flood Risk to Manhattan’s Historic Sites - Manhattan is a global cultural and economic hub, home to countless historical landmarks that reflect its rich architectural and social history.

Parts of the New York City metropolitan area are sinking and rising at different rates due to factors ranging from land-use practices to long-lost glaciers, scientists have found (NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas of New York City Sinking, Rising).

Coastal neighborhoods, including Lower Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, and the waterfront areas of Queens, are already experiencing increased flooding events, highlighting the urgency of planning for long-term resilience. Nationwide, preservationists are seeking best practices to combat the negative impact to historic buildings resulting from increased storm severity, sea-level rise, and other detrimental impacts to those places we treasure most (Resiliency & Disaster Planning in Historic Preservation).

Pain Point

Currently, preservation and climate-related data are fragmented across various sources, making access and analysis complex. Individual data maps alone are insufficient for city planners and preservationists to assess risks or make informed decisions to prevent flood-related damage to historical sites. A unified platform is needed to integrate and streamline these resources for effective planning and protection.

How we solve it

This can be addressed by proposing the development of a GIS-based predictive mapping system and an interactive dashboard to visualize the projected impact of sea level rise on NYC’s historical sites.

Built With

  • rgis
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