Application of a novel decision support system to assess and manage coastal flood risk in the Teign estuary, UK.

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the application of a Decision Support System (DSS) developed for decision makers and stakeholders to manage and raise awareness of coastal flood risk. The DSS is a GIS-based framework that predicts flooding consequences and is structured around the Source Pathway Receptor Consequence (SPRC) model. The DSS draws together points of view from engineering, ecology and socio-economics, allowing the comparative assessment of the consequences of a range of management interventions. The utility of the tool is demonstrated through application to an estuary field site - the Teign estuary in UK. Vulnerability maps, generated by the DSS for pre-set climate scenarios can be used to show their comparative efficacy in changing the consequences of flooding from a range of stakeholder viewpoints. Recently constructed “tidal” defences built within the estuary are shown to be highly effective.