Resilience Plan & Data Roadmap for St. Thomas, USVI
Key Words: Climate Adaptation Planning, Digital Twin, Data Managment, Flood Mitigation, Sustainability
As the planet warms, St. Thomas faces increasing environmental threats, including stronger hurricanes, severe rainfall, drought, and rising sea levels. To safeguard the island's cultural resources, natural beauty, and communities, a resilient St. Thomas plan has been developed, focusing on the vulnerable south shore. With strategic planning, the US Virgin Islands government can ensure the protection of critical resources and alleviate concerns about worsening environmental threats. In this studio, my focus was on establishing a systemic and localized data framework for the USVI planning department and creating two digital solutions: a USVI open data portal and an online permitting dashboard. Currently, data management and utilization across the Virgin Islands are lacking. However, with construction projects in St. Thomas reaching historic levels, there is a growing demand from the public for more resilient guidance and regulation on permits and data transparency. The objective of the digital tools outlined below was to streamline permit processes in alignment with best practices to minimize climate-related losses, and empower local agencies with data-driven insights to better comprehend and address the impacts of climate change and support vulnerable communities. More detailed information can be found in the following Esri Storymap, Dashboard, Hub, and plans.
Esri Storymap: Localized Approach to Data Roadmapping in USVI
USVI Permitting Dashboard: In the dynamic landscape of regulatory processes, DPNR recognizes the need for innovation and efficiency in managing development permits. In response to this imperative, the introduction of an online permitting dashboard is poised to revolutionize the traditional paper-based permitting system, providing not only streamlined processes but also fostering climate resilience and environmental awareness.
USVI Open Data Portal: An open data portal for the USVI would not only be a technological advancement, but also a crucial step towards fostering transparency, accountability, and informed decisionmaking. By providing a centralized platform for data sharing, the portal can significantly enhance the accessibility of information and foster collaboration across USVI departments.
Data Roadmapping Plan (left): A detailed data roadmapping plan and a step-by-step user guide for the digital tools
St.Thomas Resilience Plan (Right): A comprehensive plan with a focus on four selected locations/topics in climate resiliency planning for St.Thomas South Shore, USVI