FIU Sea Level Solutions Center

FIU Sea Level Solutions Center
Name	Sea Level Solutions Center
Type	Research center
Location	Miami, Florida
Founded	2017
Parent organization	Florida International University

FIU Sea Level Solutions Center The Sea Level Solutions Center is a research and policy institute at Florida International University focused on sea level rise, coastal resilience, and climate adaptation. Founded to coordinate interdisciplinary science, engineering, planning, and stakeholder engagement, the Center convenes experts and institutions to develop actionable strategies for communities facing chronic inundation and acute storm impacts. It bridges academic research, municipal planning, and federal programs to translate projections and modeling into locally applicable solutions.

History

The Center was established amid growing concern about coastal vulnerability following events and initiatives such as Hurricane Sandy (2012), Hurricane Irma (2017), and the publication of reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment. Its launch built on earlier work from Florida International University's departments including Florida International University College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University Department of Earth and Environment, and collaborations with regional entities like the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience. Early activity connected researchers formerly engaged with projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Center’s formation mirrored similar centers at institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, and University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

Mission and Objectives

The Center’s stated mission emphasizes applied research, stakeholder-driven innovation, and translational policy advising, aligning with strategic priorities of entities like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Objectives include producing peer-reviewed studies for journals such as Nature Climate Change and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, generating datasets interoperable with platforms used by NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey, and delivering tools that inform planning by municipal bodies including the City of Miami and Miami Beach, Florida. The Center seeks to integrate expertise from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Urban Land Institute, and community organizations such as Catalyst Miami to ensure equitable adaptation outcomes.

Research and Programs

Research at the Center spans sea level projection modeling, urban flood risk assessment, nature-based solutions, and infrastructure adaptation. Projects employ methods developed in collaboration with groups like NASA, European Space Agency, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to refine tidal and storm surge projections and to downscale climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project outputs. Engineering studies engage with standards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Public Works Association to evaluate green infrastructure, permeable pavement, and managed retreat scenarios. Programs incorporate social science inquiries informed by frameworks used by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Brookings Institution to measure socioeconomic impacts and resilience co-benefits. The Center also runs technical assistance programs that mirror initiatives by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management and the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, producing decision-support tools for utilities, transit agencies like Miami-Dade Transit, and airport operators such as Miami International Airport.

Community Engagement and Education

Community engagement emphasizes co-production of knowledge with residents, local governments, and nonprofits. The Center organizes workshops modeled on practices from the International Association for Public Participation and collaborates with cultural institutions like the Perez Art Museum Miami and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens to communicate risk via exhibits and public programs. Educational activities include curriculum development for K–12 teachers using resources similar to Project WET and graduate training that cross-lists with programs at Florida International University College of Arts, Sciences & Education and professional development for practitioners associated with the Florida Planning and Zoning Association. Outreach priorities include multilingual engagement to reach Spanish-speaking and Haitian Creole–speaking communities in Miami-Dade County and partnerships with neighborhood groups such as Opa-locka civic associations.

Partnerships and Funding

The Center’s work is supported through grants, cooperative agreements, and partnerships with federal agencies, philanthropic foundations, and private sector firms. Major funders and partners have included National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and regional foundations such as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Academic collaborations extend to universities including University of Florida, University of South Florida, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and international partners like University College London and Australian National University. Industry engagement spans engineering firms and consultancies with ties to standards organizations such as the American Society of Landscape Architects and technology providers that serve coastal infrastructure clients.

Impact and Policy Influence

The Center has influenced planning documents, ordinances, and investment strategies used by municipal and county governments, contributing to resilience plans and zoning updates in jurisdictions including Miami Beach, Florida, City of Miami, and Miami-Dade County. Its analyses inform grant applications to programs administered by HUD Community Development Block Grants and FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance, and feed into state-level discussions involving the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Scholarly outputs appear in interdisciplinary venues that shape national debates alongside reports from the Union of Concerned Scientists and policy briefs used by the American Planning Association. By linking scientific projections with practical interventions, the Center has become a node in regional networks addressing sea level rise, climate adaptation, and sustainable urban futures.

Category:Florida International University