Suffolk Reporter

The future of Long Island's coastal communities is being shaped by climate research conducted at Stony Brook University. As severe storms and rising sea levels present increasing risks, the university's scientists and engineers are working to ensure that Long Island can withstand these challenges. Their research encompasses storm tracking technology and infrastructure innovation, aiming to connect science with community resilience.

Arie Kaufman, a distinguished professor in the Department of Computer Science and chief scientist at the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), is leading efforts with a storm simulation and visualization tool. Kaufman utilizes the Reality Deck, a super-high-resolution visualization system, to model extreme weather events in great detail.

"My primary expertise is in visualization, virtual reality, and machine learning," Kaufman stated. "We use our Reality Deck for visualizing storm surge in extreme weather situations. We simulate storms on a computing cluster and immerse users in the environment, allowing them to see potential flooding impacts down to the street level."

Stony Brook's technology helps emergency managers and policymakers anticipate storm impacts and plan accordingly. "We've collaborated with the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), NOAA, the National Weather Service, and even the mayor's office in New York City," Kaufman explained. "They don't typically have good visual mechanisms to communicate storm impacts, but we can immerse them in the simulation, showing them real-time effects and evacuation routes."

Stony Brook is also addressing storm impact on Long Island. Brian Colle from SoMAS has extended research, initially focused on New York City, to Long Island. "We included Long Island because we are a Long Island-based university," Kaufman noted. "Our findings help us understand what would happen if another storm of Sandy's magnitude hit our region."

Donovan Finn, urban planner and associate professor in SoMAS, noted the challenges Long Island communities face in becoming more resilient. In Port Jefferson, relocating residents inland would alter the community’s character, a significant challenge for climate adaptation planning across coastal areas.

Finn underscored that resilience involves more than infrastructure: "It’s the people, it’s the infrastructure, it’s the land use, it’s the transportation, it’s economic base, it’s the public policy, it’s leadership — it’s, you know, it’s everything."

Kaufman explained how historical data and predictive climate modeling help anticipate storm behavior as climate change advances, incorporating critical infrastructure for emergency planning.

"This modeling shows that certain areas of Long Island are significantly more vulnerable than others," Kaufman stated. "Some of the highest locations remain relatively safe, while low-lying coastal towns face extreme risk."

Stony Brook's researchers are also designing resilient infrastructure, taking lessons from past engineering failures to develop stronger solutions. Gary Halada, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, stressed innovation in materials and construction techniques. "We need to think about not just repairing after storms, but rebuilding in a way that makes our infrastructure more resilient," Halada said.

One focus is using nature-based solutions like living shorelines, which absorb storm surges and reduce erosion. "We've seen great success with these approaches in pilot projects around Long Island," Halada noted.

Retrofitting existing structures is another area of innovation. "Many buildings and roads in coastal areas were not designed with today’s climate challenges in mind," Halada mentioned.

Stony Brook scientists are collaborating with Suffolk and Nassau County officials to enhance flood zone mapping and emergency response planning. "Having access to high-resolution storm models allows policymakers to make more informed decisions," Kaufman emphasized.

Finn pointed to real estate challenges in high-risk areas where properties may become uninsurable as climate impacts increase. "I think in some ways, public policy aside, the market may self-correct," Finn commented.

Resilient systems must develop the ability to "bend but not break," Finn said, requiring both engineering and social unity.

"The reality is, we are going to see more storms like Superstorm Sandy," Kaufman cautioned. "But through advanced prediction, resilient engineering, and smart policy decisions, we can reduce the damage and protect our communities."

— Beth Squire