Eye on the Coast - A Coastal Mapping Project

Improving resilience in coastal communities using participatory GIS

Small island developing states (SIDS) are targeted to face the greatest impacts from climate change.  In particular coastal erosion and coastal flooding will lead to significant socio-economic losses within coastal communities in SIDS.  Decisions pertaining to the most feasible method for improving resilience of coastal communities will require access to data such as coastal infrastructure, activities, properties and natural assets both at the government/corporation and community level.  In many SIDS there is a disjoint between communities and the decision makers.  

Eye on the Coast is a solution using GIS (web based and mobile) technology to facilitate a participatory approach between governments/corporations and coastal communities in (i) mapping the impacts of coastal erosion and coastal flooding including current and future scenarios, (ii) mapping coastal assets and features, (iii) mapping and valuing human coastal and marine activities and (iv) making decisions for sustainable coastal development such as coastal engineering (grey and green infrastructure) and retrofitting of existing coastal assets and structures.  With Eye on the Coast community trust, engagement and collaboration will be facilitated and government managers will have a greater understanding of human implications for management scenarios. 

This is the use of existing GIS technology in an innovative way to encourage a participatory approach to decision making for climate resilient coastal infrastructure in SIDS.

To complete the prototype of a web-based and mobile application GIS solution and pilot within two (2) coastal communities within Trinidad and Tobago. 

Three (3) of the team members are currently pursuing an MBA at Imperial College Business School. One (1) of the team members has post graduate training in coastal engineering and management and water resources management. One (1) team member has post graduate training in Geo Spatial Engineering.  One (1) team member has over 10 years in financing infrastructure.