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A Coupled Human–Natural Capital Lab for Resilient Coastal Futures

Novel approach to flood protection design

Coastal communities face unprecedented risks

from short-term extreme natural events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and landslides, as well as longer-term impacts of coastal erosion and sea level rise. Losses from catastrophic recent hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria) are likely to be the costliest ever in terms of economic, social and physical impact. Also, half of the U.S. population can be considered as coastal regions and vulnerable to flooding from increased sea level rise. Protection against one additional foot of sea level rise is estimated to cost $200B nationally. Funding flood protection programs will be a priority in many communities, putting funding of other community interests at risk. There is clearly a need to safe guard the infrastructure systems in coastal cities but do so in a way that promotes health and wellbeing benefits to coastal communities.  

Resilience thinking needs to go beyond maintaining the status quo to understand how communities can be transformed in the context of adversity i.e. to thrive beyond crisis. Creating landscapes that people value and care for strengthens a community’s ability to absorb impact and bounce back from disaster.  Communities may protect themselves from coastal flooding using “soft” green infrastructure (GI) (e.g. wetlands, coastal parks, rain gardens, berms) or “hard” infrastructure like sea walls to reduce flood risk or hybrid infrastructure e.g. (living dikes). Historically, municipalities have focused on building “hard” infrastructure to mitigate flooding risk, and return on investment (ROI) for these projects has focused solely on protection of built capital. However, these investments can be made strategically, using in-depth understanding of the engineering possibilities, combined with decision-making at the community level, in order to build resilience. By doing so, a community can benefit by adding amenity in the near term and build resilience to long-term coastal risks. 

The CoH-N CoLab is working with communities in south eastern Virginia, exploring the linkages between their natural and human systems. The expertise included in their team spans engineering, environmental science, psychology, and urban planning. By using a team approach, the CoLab is able to explore the resilience of coastal cities using scenario analyses with state-of-the-art hydrologic models to stimulate community engagement and help communities understand their changing environmental landscape. At the same time, the CoLab members identify coastal urban design options, utilizing novel hybrid GI/hard infrastructure approaches, to enhance both flood protection and the health/wellbeing of its citizens. This novel approach to flood protection design works towards increased social, environmental and economic resilience. ERI CoLab funding has enabled critical reflection among project partners and deepened integration between disciplinarily perspectives.

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Outcomes from this Project

Publications

Comparing health and wellbeing across six cities in three continents
Bringing fronts back: a research agenda to investigate the health and well-being impacts of front gardens, Challenges
Nature-based design as a driver of student academic performance and wellness, AIA- CAE Learning by Design Publication: Dialogues III.
The Restorative Health Benefits of a Tactical Urban Intervention: An Urban Waterfront Study
Impacts of Nature Experience on Psychological Health: An Ecosystem Service Approach
The Impact of Walking in Different Urban Environments on Brain Activity in Older People, Cities & Health, Published online
Urban design for adolescent mental health
Urban Nature and the Happiness Hypothesis
Colour Aesthetics: A Transatlantic Comparison on Subjective Mood and Physiological Impacts of Warm and Cool Colors in Garden Landscapes
Exploring the Role of Social Imagery on Perceived Restoration as Viewed Within Green vs. Urban Scenes Using Static vs. Moving Imagery

Outreach

Community perceptions of social capital and potential effects on health resiliency to sea level rise (SLR) risk in Norfolk, VA
CoHn CoLab, Presentation to Norfolk VA

Media Mention

Losing Eden, Guardian Article
credited in IMAX Film ‘Into America’s Wild’
Blue’ space: Access to water features can boost city dwellers’ mental health
360° City Podcast, Restorative Spaces in the City
Nature is good for you, What about VR Nature?
The potential of green urban planning for mental health
interview for Virginia Public Radio, WVTF and Radio IQ
Landscapes of the Mind
Richmond City Center Sustainability Pedestrian Infrastructure

Project Team

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Ben
Converse
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
University of Virginia
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Tanya Denkla-Cobb
Tanya
Denckla Cobb
Director of the Institute for Engagement and Negotiation
University of Virginia
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Jon Goodall
Jonathan
Goodall
Professor; Associate Director, Link Lab
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Leidy Klotz
Leidy
Klotz
Professor, Engineering Systems and Environment
University of Virginia
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Chris
Neale
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Virginia
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Matthew
Reidenbach
Professor Department of Environmental Sciences
University of Virginia
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Jenny
Roe
Mary Irene Deshong Professor of Design and Health in the Department of Environmental Planning, and the Director of the Center for Design + Health
University of Virginia
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Image of Alex Wall
Alex
Wall
Design Critic, Department of Landscape Architecture
Harvard University
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