Texas Coastal Communties Planning Atlas

This is an Interdisciplinary Initiative supported by funds from various agencies including NOAA/TX Seagrant, TX General Land Office and Coastal Services Center/NOAA. It brings together partners from various research groups and institutions with the common goal of guiding and managing the growth along the Texas coast in a sustainable and equitable manner. The outcome of this initiative is the Texas Coastal Communities Atlas, an Internet-based spatial decision support system that allows users to identify and visualize critical issues related to numerous dimensions of development including environmental degradation, natural hazard risks, and significant changes in land use patterns. In the later phase of the project, users will be able to query data and create custom maps based on multiple development scenarios. Communities can use this educational tool to guide future decisions on growth in a sustainable manner such that the need for economic development is balanced with priorities associated with environmental protection and human health, safety and welfare. The system will also help address important research questions related to where future growth will occur in Texas coastal zones, the impact of this growth, and the usefulness of Web GIS in facilitating sustainable planning.