A National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science assessment integrates multiple indices for community risk in Baltimore, MD and five surrounding counties. The data includes component scores for social vulnerability, ecosystem services, structural exposure, urban heat, and flood hazards aggregated to U.S. Census block groups. Intermediary raster datasets on stormwater flooding, wetlands, and protected areas are also provided, with flood potential calculated using a seven-indicator methodology.
Use Cases
- Modeling social vulnerability to environmental hazards based on the SoVI(R) index derived from Census data.
- Assessing stormwater flooding potential based on the FIGUSED methodology incorporating seven geospatial indicators.
- Mapping urban heat island effects based on sensor and remotely sensed data combined with land use.
- Evaluating ecosystem service values for land use planning based on the averaged valuation model.
- Analyzing structural exposure to hazards by aggregating contributing indicators to the block group level.
Strengths
- Integrates multiple risk indices (SoVI(R), ecosystem services, structural exposure, urban heat, flood hazard) into a single assessment.
- Provides data at both raster (30-meter resolution) and aggregated U.S. Census block group levels.
- Covers Baltimore City and five surrounding counties (Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's).
- Uses a defined seven-indicator methodology (FIGUSED) for calculating stormwater flooding potential.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- The primary file format listed is PDF, which may not be ideal for direct geospatial analysis.
Provenance
- Source
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
- Collection Method
- Geospatial, indicator-driven approach integrating data from Census, NOAA, Johns Hopkins University, and other sources.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-03-13 20:38:43.474196; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- Baltimore, MD and the surrounding counties of Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Queen Anne's.