Coastal Erosion & Storm Surge Impact Assessment for Planning Decisions
Model coastal erosion and storm surge impacts for development planning decisions
What You Can Do
You can synthesize coastal datasets (tide gauges, LIDAR, bathymetry, historical shorelines) to quantify erosion trends and sea-level rise impacts. Claude builds deterministic and probabilistic inundation projections, assesses infrastructure vulnerability, and translates technical analysis into policy-relevant findings that satisfy state coastal zone management and NEPA/CEQA compliance requirements for development approvals and adaptation investments.
Features
organize tide gauges, LIDAR, bathymetry, and historical shoreline datasets into defensible analytical inputs
calculate linear regression trends and confidence intervals from historical shoreline positions
project inundation zones under deterministic and probabilistic sea-level rise scenarios (RCP 4.5/8.5 pathways)
identify exposure of roads, utilities, wastewater facilities, and critical infrastructure to chronic and acute coastal hazards
generate impact assessment sections meeting state coastal zone management standards and NEPA/CEQA procedural requirements
translate technical results into policy summaries and visualizations for elected officials and community presentation
model effectiveness of nature-based (wetland restoration, living shorelines) and engineered protection measures (seawalls, beach nourishment)
Example Output
Example 1: Erosion Rate Summary
- Historical shoreline retreat (1950–2020): 1.2 ± 0.3 m/year (95% CI)
- Projected retreat by 2050 (RCP 8.5): 42–68 m landward migration
- Property at risk: 12 structures within retreat zone; 3 roads requiring relocation planning
Example 2: Storm Surge Scenario
- 100-year storm surge + 1 m sea-level rise: 2.8 m inundation elevation
- Affected area: 847 acres; 127 residential units in floodplain
- Wastewater treatment facility exposure: Electrical infrastructure at 0.4 m freeboard (inadequate)
Example 3: Regulatory Finding
- Significant cumulative impact identified (CEQA): Permanent loss of 8.2 acres coastal habitat
- Mitigation requirement: 1.3:1 salt marsh restoration or avoidance of development below 3 m elevation MSL
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with step-by-step coastal analysis workflow:
- Data synthesis checklist: inventory requirements (USGS shoreline, NOAA tide gauges, state LIDAR) and quality control procedures
- Scenario modeling framework: templates for calculating erosion projections and storm surge inundation under multiple climate pathways
- Environmental impact assessment template: sections addressing significance criteria, mitigation measures, and regulatory compliance language
- Stakeholder communication toolkit: summary templates, data visualization guidance, and talking points for planning commissions and city councils
Who It's For
- Coastal/environmental planners evaluating development applications in erosion-prone zones
- Municipal/county staff preparing adaptation plans and coastal resilience grant applications
- Environmental consultants producing defensible impact assessments for regulatory agencies
- Infrastructure planners assessing vulnerability of utilities and transportation networks to sea-level rise
- Elected officials and planning commissions requiring evidence-based findings for contentious coastal development decisions
Best For
- Quantifying historical erosion trends and projecting future shoreline positions under climate scenarios
- Modeling storm surge inundation zones and assessing property/infrastructure exposure
- Generating NEPA/CEQA-compliant environmental documentation with mitigation requirements
- Evaluating effectiveness of coastal protection strategies (nature-based and engineered)
- Communicating technical coastal risk findings to non-specialist audiences (elected officials, community members)
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