Research Components

Computer Modeling & Field Investigations Effort
These investigations will focus around developing model-based methods for assessing the safety provided by levees at different proposed crest heights and each levee reach, establishing the effects that wetlands reduction had on surge elevation at levees or other infrastructure during Katrina, and developing and testing concepts for integrating wetlands and ecosystem restoration with flood control for the built environment.

The Computer Modeling & Field Investigations will be led by Dr. G. Paul Kemp, Associate Professor, Research Natural Systems Modeling Group, School of the Coast & Environment with assistance from Dr. Ivor Ll. Van Heerden, Director, CPHIH; Dr. Marc Levitan, Director, LSU Hurricane Center; and Dr. Hassan S. Mashriqui, P.E., LSU Hurricane Center.

Recovery and Planning Effort
This effort will develop a range of planning and development scenarios using advanced visualization techniques. The information provided by these scenarios will be used to help create accelerated restoration design initiatives to assist with new infrastructure such as levees, wetlands, and open space as well as overall urban development. Communication using the three-dimensional models will contribute to a better informed citizenry and strengthen the public dialogue on these critical redevelopment initiatives.

The Recovery and Planning tasks will be the focus of the design research team led by Assistant Professors, Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels, and Elizabeth Mossop, Director, all of the LSU School of Landscape Architecture.

Outreach and Communications Effort
Through our communications and outreach efforts, we seek to build trust through transparency. These efforts are necessary to help bring openness and clarity to flood protection issues associated with rebuilding the cities along the coast of southeastern Louisiana. We will focus on the formation of a Restoration Advisory Panel that will address sustainable restoration with people from the non-profit and social science academic sectors. To bring these two groups together, there will also be a two-day workshop focusing on providing organizations with a greater ability to participate in combining coastal restoration plans with the re-visioning and rebuilding of New Orleans and nearby parishes. We believe that access to the truth is a prerequisite for restoration of communities, levees, and the surrounding, supporting natural systems.

The Outreach and Communications effort will be led by Ms. Denise Rousseau Ford of the LSU Technical Outreach Services to Communities Program (TOSC) of the Hazardous Substance Research Center/S&SW with assistance from Outreach Specialist, Tomeka Prioleau.

Computer and Modeling Team
Dr. G. Paul Kemp, Associate Professor, Research Natural Systems Modeling Group, School of the Coast & Environment

Research Interest: Massively parallel numerical models to deal with high-intensity, short-term events like hurricanes and low-intensity long-term phenomena like delta formation, coastal wetlands, coastal erosion processes, ecosystem modeling, estuarine geochemistry, natural resources/science policy

Recovery and Planning Team
Bradley Cantrell, Assistant Professor, LSU School of Landscape Architecture

Research Interest:

Outreach and Communications Team
Ms. Denise Rousseau Ford, Assistant Director HSRC/S&SW

Research Interest: Technical assistance and outreach; research translation; risk communication to disparate groups; cultural learning practices; and group facilitation