|
Team
John Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Earth Sciences, Rice University
Christopher Hight, Ph.D., School of Architecture, Rice University
Project Background
The upper Texas Coast has experienced a recent surge in development, particularly on the west end of Galveston Island. With this growth comes public outcry for better planning that will protect the integrity of the coast for future generations. Hurricane Ike provided a harsh lesson in the need for better planning for sustained development of the upper Texas Coast. This project is unique in that it will include a detailed assessment of the Geohazards associated with development on barrier islands and peninsulas as well as forward looking design strategies that attempt to re-shape current thinking about development on these fragile environments. It is a collaborative effort between the Department of Earth Sciences, under the direction of Dr. John Anderson, and the Department of Architecture, under the direction of Dr. Christopher Hight. The area of the study extends from Surfside Beach to High Island, focusing on Galveston Island.
The Galveston Island Geohazards map was the first attempt to manage development on a barrier island in a way that looks towards its long-term economic and environmental future. The map still has not been adopted by City officials, who have argued that it is too stringent and lacks detailed explanation. We will attempt to rectify this problem. In addition, this project aims at expanding and improving the current Geohazards map for Galveston Island using more current information on rates of sea-level, subsidence, sand budgets and substrate conditions along the coast.
Dr. Christopher Hight and his students will use the updated Geohazards Map as the basis for its research and design, focusing on Galveston Island. A student-produced website will present design strategies for the Gulf Coast’s present and future, including the relationships between scientific data, economies of development, political desires and ecological concerns. The objective is to provide ideas for responsible development by providing a vehicle through which often abstract and complex concepts can be addressed to a broad public. Our hope is that our research in the Gulf Coast will set the standard by which coastal planning will be conducted nationally, and even globally.
|
Dr. John Anderson
Dr. Christopher Hight
|
