Pioneer method of coastal guards to protect the Florida Keys coast

Due to its unique geography and infrastructure network, the Florida Keys is particularly at risk.

By 2050, the sea level will increase by 0.25 to 0.30 meters along the United States coast, which increases the flooding in low areas. Due to its unique geography and infrastructure network, the Florida Keys is particularly at risk of climate risk such as the increase in sea level, hurricanes and floods. The Florida Keys have been experiencing four Hurricanes – Irma (2107), Ian (2022), Helene (2024) and Milton (2024) since 2015.

Natural -based solutions such as restoration of mangroves and coastal strands can help to alleviate these risks by stabilizing the coastal lines, improving ecosystems and improving resilience against flooding and hurricanes. These solutions as well as natural materials such as plants, sand dunes or stones to protect the coast against erosion offer effective, local protection.

While living coastal lines are advantageous, they require careful design and planning to optimize their effectiveness.

In cooperation with The Nature Conservancy, researchers at Florida Atlantic University created a new instrument to identify the most effective coastal stabilization methods to prevent erosion and to protect the Florida key from damage caused by natural forces such as waves, tides and storms. Maintaining the shape and integrity of the coast reduces the risk of further erosion and protects and protects ecosystems, properties and infrastructure.

The aim is to use decisions about the use of vegetated coastal lines or the combination with structures to reduce waves, to prevent erosion and protect and prevent Florida Keys from storming.

The study published in the Journal of Marine Science Engineering show that almost 8% of the approximately 2,550 kilometers of coastline in the Florida keys are suitable for natural-based solutions-mangroven plants, oysters and beach dune legation or Hybrid solutions-a combination of hard structures and vegetation. Conversely, around 25.1% of the coastal lines in Florida Keys for natural -based approaches were classified as unsuitable, and approximately 67% have already been vegetated or represent a different kind of natural coastline.

For the study, researchers developed a GIS-based multi-criteria decision instrument that facilitates the restoration of the coasts and integrates natural-based solutions into conventional coastal tanks. They combined spatial analysis tools with expert inputs to develop a weighted suitability point for different types of coastal reinforcement, if possible. By integrating data to existing Shoreline types -from an updated version of the NOS environmental sensitivity index of NOAA -together with wind and wave exposure as well as physical environmental factors, they generated a compound Shoreline -Relative exposure index. Based on this assessment, generally defined categories of project types were recommended for various combinations of coastal features and flood risk conditions.

Experts who have completed the survey covered coastal technology, rainwater management, marine biology, the restoration of habitats, the resilience of the community, urban planning and sustainability. The data was used to calculate the ratings that were analyzed via a machine learning model to identify the best stabilization options for different coastal types, including developed, unclear and protected areas.

The results indicate that in some areas of the Florida Keys coast, while conventional herch tormentation lines are needed, hybrid and living coasts should be prioritized if possible to protect people, habitats and resources. This requires the participation of private stakeholders and the coordination of public institutions to strengthen the resilience of the coast.

“The implementation of innovative coastal stabilization methods is of crucial importance, since environmental shifts and population growth worsen the challenges of flood management, which makes it essential to pursue sustainable, natural -based solutions that improve resilience and protect resistance,” said Diana Mitsova, Ph.D. Department of Department for the Department for the Department of the Urban Department for the Science of the Urbend.

The coastal ecosystems in Südflorida, including mangrove swamps and coastal strands, have already been included in various practices of the coastline management that reduce erosion potential and create appropriate habitat conditions. Mangroves are essential for the maintenance of muzzle and sea ecosystems in South Florida, offer critical habitat, stabilization of coastal lines and support the biological diversity. They offer nesting places for many types and help the marine food chain by being a main source for small organic pieces. Their complex root systems keep the floor in place, reduce the water cloudy and help to collect rubble and particles in the water.

“New improvements in geospatial technology enable us to combine data with people from people with people with local land and ocean environmental data in large areas,” said Chris Bergh, Director of Field Programs at Nature Conservancy. “This information helps the coastal managers to identify key areas that are important for commercial and leisure activities.

The data from this study can be accessed via the coastal resilience of Nature Conservancy, an online tool that uses GIS technology to enable users to visualize the proposed coastal stabilization methods that are tailored to different areas of the Florida keys. In addition, users can overlap local data such as projected sea level rise, coastal habitats and land use.

Studies co-authors are Kevin Cresswell, Ph.D., an additional faculty in the FAU department for urban and regional planning; Melina Matos, Ph.D., assistant professor in the FAU department for urban and regional planning; Stephanie Wakefield, Ph.D., assistant professor in the FAU department for urban and regional planning; Kathleen Freeman, GIS specialist, The Nature Conservancy; and William Carlos Lima, Ph.D., an additional faculty in the FAU department for urban and regional planning.

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