Mapping Exposure to Sea Level Rise

The Pacific region includes some of the world's lowest-lying countries. However, most climate adaptation activities in the Pacific are not informed by the fundamental data required to identify the magnitude of, and communities at risk from, coastal flooding.

Innovative ICT solutions are helping Pacific Island countries prepare for and adapt to sea level rise brought about by climate change. The Mapping Exposure to Sea Level Rise project provides the fundamental data, skills and tools at-risk communities need to make planning decisions. It trains government decision makers to use online tools and flood maps to understand and mitigate the risks of sea level rise. Using these maps, governments can better understand and communicate climate change risk to local communities and put adaptation plans in place.

To address the lack of ICT awareness and use by key government decision makers, the project focused on creating intuitive and user friendly applications that would optimize use and availability. The Australian Department of the Environment, the CRC for Spatial Information (CRCSI) and NGIS Australia (NGIS) spent four years working with Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, to build capacity in spatial information modeling and decision making through Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and aerial imagery surveys, geographic information systems (GIS) training and the provision of hardware and software.

The software and online spatial information tools delivered as part of this project enabled maps to be presented to local communities, informing them of the potential risk. Empowered with these maps, it is now possible for partner governments to understand and communicate the climate change risk to local communities.