Kim de Mutsert was one of the Keynote Speakers at the CSDMS (Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System) annual meeting “Modeling Coupled Earth and Human Systems – The Dynamic Duo.” That took place in Boulder, Colorado from May 23-25, 2017. See the presentation below entitled: “Modeling a Coastal Environment with Human Elements.”
Keynote Abstract:
If one system comes to mind where the human element is intertwined with the environment, it is the Louisiana coastal area in the Southern United States. Often referred to as the working coast, coastal Louisiana supports large industries with its ports, navigation channels, oil, and productive fisheries. In addition to that, Louisianians have a significant cultural connection to the coastal wetlands and their natural resources. Unfortunately, the land is disappearing into the sea with coastal erosion rates higher than anywhere else in the US. Due to these high rates of land loss, this system needs rigorous protection and restoration. While the restoration plans are mostly focused on building land, the effects on, for example, fisheries of proposed strategies should be estimated as well before decisions can be made on how to move forward. Through several projects I have been involved in, from small modeling projects to bold coastal design programs, I present how coupled models play a key role in science-based coastal management that considers the natural processes as well as the human element.
