Abstract:
This research considers the availability of the appropriate geospatial data in support of
vulnerability mapping of the Oregon coast. An online experiment, Voicing Climate Concerns,
was developed to give community stakeholders, researchers and other interested parties the
opportunity to voice their concerns on climate change and their perceived vulnerability to it. The
results of the experiment produced a synthesized list of only the most salient of concerns, as well
as indicators and units of measurement for data sets that might represent these concerns. A
detailed search of actual geospatial data was conducted based on these concerns and summarized
in a list of geospatial data websites. The list was then used to develop a database of GIS data sets
which were then used in conjunction with a web-based tool called MapChat2. MapChat2 was
used as part of an online tool developed at the University of Washington called Deliberative
Mapping of Vulnerability (DMV). The geospatial data sets were used as layers in a GIS
environment for the creation of maps. Finally, users held interactive chat fora to discuss
vulnerable areas of concern, which informed some concluding ideas on how best to locate and
use GIS data sets for mapping concerns about climate change.
