Applied Geomatics Research Group
Mapping climate risk to protect Atlantic communities
To plan for the future, we need to understand what’s at risk today, and that’s where NSCC’s Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) plays a vital role. Based at the Annapolis Valley Campus, AGRG uses high-resolution remote sensing and GIS techniques to monitor, model and map coastal and inland environments, focusing on flood risk, erosion, habitat loss and watershed health.
With over 20 years of coastal research experience, AGRG helps communities adapt to climate change by applying topo-bathymetric lidar and advanced geospatial modelling to assess how storm surges, sea-level rise and other climate stressors could impact Atlantic Canada.
In partnership with ClimAtlantic and national climate scientists, AGRG recently completed a major mapping project that assessed coastal flood risk across Atlantic Canada. Using detailed elevation data, predictive models and sea-level rise scenarios, the team created flood layers showing areas at risk from 20- and 100-year storm surge events, now and in the future (2050, 2100 and 2150).
This required combining the best available regional data, including lidar from the Maritimes and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, with models for storm surge, high tides, wave run-up and rising seas. They used the latest climate scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to produce detailed maps illustrating how far water could reach during major storms and hurricanes.
This work gained added relevance after Hurricane Fiona in 2022. By capturing the storm’s high-water mark and validating their models against real-world damage, AGRG is helping communities better prepare for the next major event.
“These maps are decision-making tools,” says Dr. Tim Webster, Research Scientist. “They show planners, municipalities and emergency responders where risks lie and how those risks will change with climate. That’s critical for protecting people, infrastructure and ecosystems.”
Beyond the coast, AGRG supports inland flood modelling and water management through watershed and hydrology studies. They also contribute to sustainable aquaculture by mapping contaminants and evaluating coastal site suitability.
By turning complex geospatial data into clear, actionable insights, AGRG helps communities and industries across Atlantic Canada build resilience to a changing climate.
“Many areas of the Atlantic region are projected to experience increased coastal flooding as a result of climate change. Flood hazard maps have often been acquired locally or sub-regionally and use a diversity of methods and input data, resulting in gaps. Our collaboration with AGRG has allowed for the creation of a more harmonized coastal flood hazard dataset, based on the latest climate change projections, for the entire Atlantic region. This collaboration furthers our collective efforts to make climate data more accessible.”
- Armin Nikkhah, Climate Change Science and Data Lead, CLIMAtlantic Inc.
