Figure 18. Floodwater depth associated with the Jan. 21, 2000 storm-surge event overlaid on a
shaded relief of the Digital Surface Model (DSM). The DSM was constructed from the combined
“ground” and “non-ground” LIDAR points. Water depth can have a significant impact on the
amount of damage an area sustains from flooding.
assessment values of these properties, an economic impact was calculated (Milloy and
MacDonald, 2002). It was also shown that public lands, critical infrastructure, and
transportation links (e.g. access to the hospital) were affected during the surge event.
The flood-risk vectors were passed to the City of Charlottetown Planning
Department to assist in defining future development plans for the waterfront. On a
municipal basis, some planning strategies can be pursued to limit vulnerability. These
include measures such as appropriate zoning, acquisition of flood-prone properties,
flood-proofing, or taking advantage of replacement schedules to move key
infrastructure to less vulnerable locations (Forbes et al., 2002).
Retreat from flooding may not be a broadly viable adaptation option in urban
settings such as Charlottetown, so alternative accommodation and protection strategies
may need to be considered. Furthermore, horizontal setbacks may not be appropriate in
areas where the risk is primarily related to flooding. In such cases, vertical thresholds or
setbacks in which the location is defined by elevation and flood probability may be
more effective in reducing exposure. Accommodation options are already being
considered in Charlottetown as a result of this study. These include flood-proofing of
basements and other measures to reduce damage in the event of flooding, as well as
more stringent assessment of building proposals in potentially flood-prone areas. These
are progressive moves. Other straightforward accommodation measures may include
raising foundation heights or the heights of protection structures, wharves, and other
coastal infrastructure (O’Reilly et al., 2003).
178
Webster and Forbes
shaded relief of the Digital Surface Model (DSM). The DSM was constructed from the combined
“ground” and “non-ground” LIDAR points. Water depth can have a significant impact on the
amount of damage an area sustains from flooding.
assessment values of these properties, an economic impact was calculated (Milloy and
MacDonald, 2002). It was also shown that public lands, critical infrastructure, and
transportation links (e.g. access to the hospital) were affected during the surge event.
The flood-risk vectors were passed to the City of Charlottetown Planning
Department to assist in defining future development plans for the waterfront. On a
municipal basis, some planning strategies can be pursued to limit vulnerability. These
include measures such as appropriate zoning, acquisition of flood-prone properties,
flood-proofing, or taking advantage of replacement schedules to move key
infrastructure to less vulnerable locations (Forbes et al., 2002).
Retreat from flooding may not be a broadly viable adaptation option in urban
settings such as Charlottetown, so alternative accommodation and protection strategies
may need to be considered. Furthermore, horizontal setbacks may not be appropriate in
areas where the risk is primarily related to flooding. In such cases, vertical thresholds or
setbacks in which the location is defined by elevation and flood probability may be
more effective in reducing exposure. Accommodation options are already being
considered in Charlottetown as a result of this study. These include flood-proofing of
basements and other measures to reduce damage in the event of flooding, as well as
more stringent assessment of building proposals in potentially flood-prone areas. These
are progressive moves. Other straightforward accommodation measures may include
raising foundation heights or the heights of protection structures, wharves, and other
coastal infrastructure (O’Reilly et al., 2003).
178
Webster and Forbes