Strengthening Coastal Resilience to Hurricanes Through Nature-Based Engineering

The proposed research aims to assess the vulnerability of existing coastal communities, including both residential buildings and coastal infrastructures to hurricane-induced storm surge and wind loading, and to identify effective measures to enhance their resilience. The project will develop smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) models to simulate wave-structure interactions, which will be used to evaluate the effect of nature-based and grey-green infrastructures to mitigate the negative impact of storm surges on coastal communities, especially for those who are most vulnerable. By studying feasibility and quantifying the effectiveness and benefit of these mitigation strategies, this research will provide valuable input for the local communities to improve their local mitigation plan and identify high priority projects for future investments. To ensure the research tasks are aligned with the real needs of the local community, the PIs will partner with the Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) to identify the most vulnerable communities and their viable coastal infrastructure options to customize our analysis, to collect information on already-built living shoreline project, and finally to facilitate the implementation of the identified  solutions in the Local Mitigation Strategy documents. This work aligns with Program Goal 2 of the National and Florida Sea Grant—Resilient Communities and Economies—by contributing to the preparedness of coastal communities for extreme coastal hazards.