Responses to Climate Change

Comprehensive Evaluation of Projects with Respect to Sea-Level Change

This effort relies on the extensive expert science provided by the NOAA National Ocean Service with respect to tides and gauges. Their participation on the USACE team allows rapid infusion of science into engineering.

The Comprehensive Evaluation of Projects with Respect to Climate Change (CESL) purpose is to inventory and assess the vulnerability of USACE projects to the effects of Sea Level Change and provide added benefits to other USACE activities (such as Asset Management and Recapitalization).

Internal and external analyses performed after Hurricane Katrina identified the need to incorporate new and changing information into project planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance. As a result of these findings, the USACE initiated the Comprehensive Evaluation of Project Datums (CEPD) to evaluate and correct those projects that were not accurately related to the current National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and local tidal datums.

USACE also updated its guidance on considerations for sea-level change (SLC) in Civil Works programs and projects. Combining the post-Katrina recommendations around land subsidence, tidal fluctuations, and sea level change, and to ensure sustainable performance in the future, we must now evaluate all of our projects with respect to sea-level change, whether they are operating, in planning, in engineering, or currently under construction.

A web-based Geographic Interface Systems (GIS) tool is one of the expected products of this effort. It will provide information related to the impact of Sea Level Change on USACE projects. This tool will allow users to visualize the effects of Sea Level Change, perform related data entry and screening, and provide links to Sea Level Change related information. The two main parts of the tool consist of a CESL Database and a Visualizing and Query Engine.

revised 13 February 2012

CESL SLC Curve Calculator

Climate Change Adaptation

Comprehensive Evaluation of Projects with Respect to Sea-Level Change