1. Capstone Project Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Photo Courtesy of Sean Cornell
Instructions: This document contains 3 stages that are designed to follow the course content as it is developed so that you can complete the capstone audit of your selected city. Note that Stage 4 has three additional parts to help you prepare your final product. You will need to use this tool weekly to guide your data collection and organize your ideas and research information as you prepare your Google Earth audio-annotated tour.
Stage 2: Physical System Assessment
Stage 3: Human System & Engineering Infrastructure Assessment
Stage 4a: Vulnerability, Planning & Action
Stage 4b: Site Specific Concerns or Considerations
Stage 4c: Recommended Resiliency Action Plans
Stage 4d: References and Key Resources
Recommendations:
You may want to print this document out so that you have it in your class notes where it can be referred to and added to often.
Each week you should make notes on the pages where appropriate.
On occasion go back to the original electronic PPTx document to type up your notes.
You are encouraged to add additional slides to the file to keep track of Excel Plots, Maps, etc.
Using this tool as intended will put you on the right track to doing well with the capstone project.
If you have questions, make sure you post your questions to the course discussion board (Yammer, etc.) or follow the recommendations of your instructor.
DO NOT give one-word responses as you fill in the CVAT. You need to think deeply about each response and write responses that reflect that depth of thought as informed by your research.

2. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 2: Physical System Assessment
City/Location Name
Country
State/Province
Site Location (city center)
Lat.
Long.
Coastal Setting
Describe the coastal setting, shore orientation, landforms present, etc. May want to produce a labeled map of the site showing key features.
Climatic Setting
Tropical, Sub-Tropical, Arid, Temperate, sub-Polar, Polar, etc.
Tectonic Setting
Proximity to tectonic plate boundaries, active tectonic features, passive margin, etc.
Topographic Profile
(from inland to offshore)
Use geomapapp.org to produce a profile you can use

3. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 2: Physical System Assessment (continued)
Coastal Geomorphology
Barrier islands, barrier reefs, sounds, estuaries, mangroves, etc.
Coastal Processes
Describe the nature of coastal processes in the region (i.e., waves, tides, nearshore current configuration, common storm trajectories, etc.)
Common Local Coastal Hazards
Coastal flooding, storm surge, water table positions, wave run-up, storm waves, shoreline erosion rates, landslides, etc..
Regional Coastal Hazards
Volcanism, earthquakes, tsunami, cyclone, etc.
Coastal Vulnerability & Exposure
Hazard recurrence interval(s), rate of sea-level rise/fall.
Use USGS CVI Scoring System ?

4. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 3: Human System & Engineering Infrastructure
Assessment
Coastal Population Population Size, Demographics, Distribution, Per Capita Density. Income Distribution,
Residential Housing
Shanties, Apartments/Condos, Single/Multi-story Single Family Homes, Density of housing, etc.
Commercial Buildings
Hotels, industrial buildings, manufacturing plants, retail, hotels, high-rise buildings etc.
Cultural Resources
Churches, museums, monuments, etc.
Built Infrastructure
Bridges, Roads, Highways, Piers, Docks, Seawalls, Groins, Levees, Jetties, etc.
Utilities Infrastructure
(Water lines, electrical supply, waste water, etc.

5. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 3: Human System & Engineering Infrastructure Assessment (continued)
Risk Assessment(s)
Low-Medium-High Risk Hazards
Shoreline Engineering
Existing and potential shoreline engineering strategies - offensive and defensive options.
Flood Control
Existing and potential projects
Coastal Regulations
Zoning, regulations, land use plans, building codes, etc.
Insurance / Risk Reduction
Flood, Surge, Wind, Fire, etc.
Beach Management
Existing or potential for re-nourishment etc.
Non-traditional shoreline protection
Hardened dunes, dewatering systems, geotubes, bioengineering, resource restoration activities, etc.

6. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 4a: Vulnerability, Planning and Action
Adaptive Capacity
(Access to transportation, educational attainment, income/wealth, community preparedness, strength of social institutions, etc.)
Vulnerability & Disaster Management Scenarios
Planning for Climate Change Options
Flexible relocation, sustainable building practices, staged retreat, etc.
Master Plan Development
Education Options
Restoration
Wetlands, SAV restoration, Reef/Living shorelines, dune restoration, etc.

7. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 4a: Vulnerability, Planning and Action (continued)
Smart Engineering
Retrofit, improve coastal engineering, develop flood resiliency, rezone land use, etc.
Preparedness/
Response / Recovery Planning

8. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 4b: Site Specific Concerns or Considerations
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Item 5
Item 6

9. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 4c: Recommended Resiliency Action Plans
Additional things to consider: Likelihood of success factoring in: poverty, access to resources, natural geologic concerns, Relative expense, timeline considerations, pros and cons of the action item, etc.
Highest Priority: Action 1
Action 2
Action 3
Action 4
Lowest Priority: Action 5

10. Coastal Vulnerability Audit Tool (CVAT)
Stage 4d: References and Key Resources
Include web links , newspaper articles, citations to primary literature, databases, personal communications, etc.
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Item 5

11. Presentation Google Earth tour of location Script of Tour
CVAT Powerpoint