Water Environment Federation’s Post

Are we tornado-ready? 🌪️ A groundbreaking study from Florida State University dives into the heart of tornado resilience, analyzing seven decades of data. This isn't just about weather patterns; it's about people, communities, and the very fabric of our infrastructure. Eren Ozguven and his team at the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center studied Kentucky's history with tornadoes, unveiling a stark reality. In the crosshairs of climate change, the reach of tornadoes is shifting, threatening new areas with increased force. The key to weathering this storm? Preparedness on every level. 🛡️ Using GIS software, the study paints a picture of vulnerability. It's a blend of frequency, the robustness of transportation networks, economic health, and more. Their findings? A guide for local and state governments on where to channel their support for maximum impact - before, during, and after disaster strikes. As the Florida Panhandle picks up the pieces from January's barrage, the study's insights are not just timely—they are crucial. They provide a blueprint for building resilience in the face of an unpredictable climate. It's a reminder that when we have the right data, we can turn preparedness into our superpower. Let's take the conversation forward. How can we apply these findings to strengthen communities nationwide? Share your thoughts! #ClimateResilience #TornadoPreparedness #Infrastructure

While it's impossible to completely eradicate wildfires, with accurate weather forecasting and monitoring solutions it's possible to reduce their impact on ecosystems, homes, critical infrastructure, and ultimately, lives. 🛡️ In our blog, Vaisala’s Head of Energy, Urban & Industry Erik Sucksdorff explores how technology can help us prevent and prepare for wildfires and other extreme weather – and how measurement data enables a measurable impact on people and the planet. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPRvthV9 #WildfireSeason #Vaisala #TakingEveryMeasure

📈 The World Meteorological Organization's State of the Global Climate 2023 report highlights record-breaking levels of greenhouse gases, rising temperatures, and worsening ocean conditions. Despite the grim outlook, proactive measures can lessen the impact of climate-related emergencies. Early warning systems act as the first line of defense by continuously monitoring climate indicators through a network of satellites, ground stations, and sensors. 🌍🛰📡 Our latest EOHub article explores climate-related emergencies and early-warning and monitoring systems' role in mitigating their impacts. 🔥Why are climate emergencies on the rise? 🔥How can we identify at-risk areas before flames erupt? 🔥How do thermal satellites pinpoint potential fire zones? 🔥Where can we access thermal data to create wildfire solutions? OroraTech UP42 Here's more on how to easily and quickly assess at-risk areas and build a complete picture of fire behavior: #wildfiredetection #satellitemonitoring #thermalimaging #remotesensing #environmentalmonitoring #climatecrisis #wildfiremapping

🌍🚨 Shaken, Not Stirred: A Call for Preparedness and Innovation 🌊 Northern California was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, shaking lives and landscapes alike. While nature's power reminds us of its unpredictability, it also reaffirms the need for proactive environmental readiness. 💡 At Definitive Safety Group, we leverage cutting-edge technologies to address these challenges: 📊 Real-time environmental monitoring- ensuring rapid response to seismic activity and early warnings. 🔗 Resilient infrastructure assessments- identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing structural safety. 🌱 Sustainable solutions for community safety- creating long-term, eco-friendly practices that strengthen disaster preparedness. Earthquakes and their ripple effects, such as tsunamis 🌊 and landslides 🌳, highlight the importance of vigilant planning and innovative tools. Our systems are designed to help communities prepare, adapt, and thrive in the face of nature’s unpredictability. 💬 Let’s build a safer, more resilient future—together. 🌟 #thedsgway #EnvironmentalConsultants #PreparednessMatters #SustainableSolutions #NaturalDisasters #InnovationForChange 🌍

#newarticle | Natural disasters including those caused by climate change have no respect for borders. With its strong marine-based economies and its dependence on agriculture Asia is vulnerable to shifts in the ecosystem. A session discussing the importance of mitigating natural disasters through resilience and capacity building was convened on the second day of #GeoConnectAsia2024. Speaking about the challenges of climate change-induced natural disasters and extreme heat waves Bushra Afreen, 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚, 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐭-𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 said, “Heat affects everything. If we tap heat data we can see how drastically it affects entire cities.” While talking about how geospatial can help in mitigating climate change 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 Norazlin Pamuji, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚, said “We need to look at the special requirements. Working with geospatial is how we can relate and confirm the location with the instances. We can map city-wise, district-wise, or even local areas.” Explaining how satellite imagery can revolutionise climate resilience and manage disasters Sang-Ho Yun, 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 – 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐛 (𝐄𝐎𝐒-𝐑𝐒) said, “Newer satellites can measure land height change to millimetre. That shows the amazing geodetic data management he can have nowadays. This sensitivity can be turned into sensing subtle changes in any area. Tropical changes, typhoons, and other disasters can be detected and mapped by this technology. #satelliteimagery #climatechange #naturaldisasters #resilience https://lnkd.in/dxjQRUZ7

In recent years we have witnessed intense wildfires. While it's impossible to completely eradicate wildfires, with accurate weather forecasting and monitoring solutions it's possible to reduce their impact on ecosystems, homes, critical infrastructure, and ultimately, lives. 🛡️ In our blog, Vaisala’s Head of Energy, Urban & Industry Erik Sucksdorff explores how technology can help us prevent and prepare for wildfires and other extreme weather – and how measurement data enables a measurable impact on people and the planet. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_kSbaj9 #WildfireSeason #Vaisala #TakingEveryMeasure

Day12 of #30mapchallenge, more tropical cyclone maps! I previously created space-time cubes for tropical cyclones in Australia to perform Emerging Hot Spot Analysis. Today, I visualized this cube directly in 2D, allowing for a clear view of trends in cyclone occurrence across different areas. This 2D visulization of the space-time cube reveals trends in tropical cyclone (TC) occurrence over time, highlighting a significant upward trend in northern NT and northern WA. Climate change likely contributes to this increase by raising sea temperatures which fuels more frequent cyclones. Disaster readiness is crucial in northern Australia, where climate change is driving more frequent and intense weather events, including tropical cyclones, extreme heat, and flooding. This region is particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to warm tropical waters, which fuel cyclones, and the potential for disrupted ecosystems and infrastructure. Effective disaster preparedness—such as early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and community response training—can save lives, protect resources, and support quicker recovery in the face of climate-induced disasters. Data source: https://lnkd.in/gNE75qRn #climatechange #spatialanalysis #arcgispro #arcgis #map #australia #disasterrelief #disasterreadiness #tropicalcyclone

"Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." -- Mark Twain. Or was it Charles Dudley Warner? So the saying goes. Regardless of who said it, the world is getting warmer, and we are having more and more extreme weather events. And with extreme weather comes disasters: massive fires that turn the sky orange, colossal hurricanes that flood cities, and more. Our project, Bellwether—which we announced for the first time today—is exploring how AI can help us better understand the physical world. While we are approaching the problem of increased frequency and size of disasters from multiple angles, one important focus is: How can we help people after a disaster occurs? In the aftermath of catastrophe, every second matters. First responders need to understand what buildings are damaged and where to send people who are injured or have lost their homes. The National Guard is often the first on the scene. They work with the Civil Air Patrol to take aerial photos to gain an understanding of the severity of the disaster. The devices used by CAP are often cell phones or simple digital cameras, which provide limited information about the contents of the photo itself. With Bellwether's understanding of the physical world, we have created an AI-powered tool which analyzes aerial photos within seconds to identify critical infrastructure, allowing the National Guard to respond faster and more efficiently. Climate change is happening, and people all over the world are feeling its negative effects. I'm proud of our work at Bellwether to help people, both before and after a disaster, and it’s an honor to lead such a talented engineering team. For more information on Bellwether and what it can do, please reach out to me or contact the team on [email protected] https://lnkd.in/g3bEyjkV Sarah Russell Rich Mazzola Akshina Gupta Josh Jeffery Audre H Qian Huang Caroline Jaffe Ali Ahmadalipour Sylvia Martha Wedner Ben Messinger

NIST's Pioneering Wind Tunnel Research In the face of escalating climate change impacts, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is helping to fortify communities against extreme weather events through cutting-edge wind tunnel testing research. This initiative, spotlighted in recent NIST news, underscores a vital effort to enhance the structural integrity and resilience of buildings in hurricane-prone regions, with a particular focus on areas like Puerto Rico that have historically borne the brunt of such natural disasters. NIST's research employs advanced wind tunnel testing techniques to simulate the severe wind conditions buildings might face during hurricanes. This method involves constructing scaled models of buildings and their surrounding landscapes to assess how well they can withstand the intense pressures and forces generated by high winds. Such meticulous testing, conducted at facilities like the University of Florida, provides invaluable data on wind pressures exerted on structures, informing improvements to building codes and standards. Testing is being done using models of hospitals in Puerto Rico, set against the island's mountainous terrain known for its unique wind patterns. These patterns can amplify the destructive power of storms, making the research crucial for the development of buildings capable of enduring such extreme conditions. The primary aim of NIST's wind tunnel testing research is to recommend enhancements to building codes and standards, ensuring structures are more resilient to the forces of nature. This initiative is particularly significant for constructing storm shelters and hospitals that can provide safe havens during emergencies, thereby safeguarding lives and property. By scrutinizing current building design standards, NIST researchers are pinpointing areas for improvement, leading to the construction of more robust structures. This proactive approach not only addresses immediate hurricane preparedness concerns but also contributes to a broader strategy for adapting to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters. #NIST #Hurricane #stormtesting

Have you gone to the latest version of ArcGIS Pro, yet? Here in the south, we’re entering the season of “Constant Threat of Deluge PopUp Storms.” These cause significant flash floods and they’re becoming more frequent and more extreme as climate change exacerbates these hazards. The City of Asheville identifies my neighborhood as being at High Risk of flood hazards in our Climate Action Plan. I thought I’d take the opportunity to explore our new Simulation tool in ArcGIS Pro to experiment in my own area! Here, I’m showing the rate of 1/4 in of rainfall/hr over a 6 hr period. This is just me experimenting and not exactly taking into consideration changes in rates over time, and other factors, but you CAN do that if you want! Pretty amazing results, and based on what I’ve seen of the flash floods already, pretty darn impressive results. Check out this link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dm5MWaEj #flooding #resilience #hecras #climate #gis