Remote monitoring could boost the use of nature-based solutions to
safeguard against natural hazards

Date:
March 30, 2021
Source:
University of Surrey
Summary:
Remote monitoring using airborne devices such as drones or
satellites could revolutionize the effectiveness of nature-based
solutions (NBS) that protect communities from devastating natural
hazards such as floods, storms and landslides, say climate change
experts.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Remote monitoring using airborne devices such as drones or satellites
could revolutionise the effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NBS)
that protect communities from devastating natural hazards such as floods, storms and landslides, say climate change experts from the University
of Surrey.


==========================================================================
Grey structural measures (a collective term for engineering projects that
use concrete and steel) like floodgates, dams, dikes and sea walls are
still the most common methods to guard against natural hazards. However,
these 'grey measures' are expensive and lack the long-term flexibility
and sustainability needed to help communities manage their growing
population and address the planet's ongoing struggle against urbanisation
and climate change. While NBS are cost-effective, their usability and reproducibility are often hindered by the lack of standard monitoring
methods, tools and indicators.

In a comprehensive study published in the Earth-Science Reviews journal, researchers from Surrey's Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) collaborated with experts from across Europe to analyse monitoring
methods that measure the effectiveness of NBS -- such as wetlands,
forest restoration projects and installation of green walls.

In the paper, the team found that while there is a need for combining
ground and remote monitoring methods for holistic assessment,
the advances in remote monitoring techniques present a significant
source of hope for routinely, continually and accurately measuring the effectiveness of NBS and quelling skepticism around choosing NBS over grey-engineered options. Remote monitoring offers the ability to cover
large geographical areas, and high-resolution imagery could change the
way farmers, scientists, hazard managers and other decision-makers view
NBS usage and applicability.

However, the study also warns that the lack of globally accepted standards
to gauge an NBS success hinders their progress and use and needs to be
urgently addressed.

Professor Prashant Kumar, Associate Dean (International) and the
Director of the GCARE at the University of Surrey, said: "Unfortunately
we do expect a significant uptick in natural hazards, thanks to climate
change. Therefore, our decisions on how we protect ourselves are crucial,
and nature-based solutions have the advantages of being flexible and
not adding to the damage caused to our environment.

"I hope that this review begins an urgent discussion on how we can
move forward as a scientific community and start to develop an accepted framework for measuring the effectiveness of nature-based solutions." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Surrey. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Prashant Kumar, Sisay E. Debele, Jeetendra Sahani, Nidhi Rawat,
Belen
Marti-Cardona, Silvia Maria Alfieri, Bidroha Basu, Arunima
Sarkar Basu, Paul Bowyer, Nikos Charizopoulos, Juvonen Jaakko,
Michael Loupis, Massimo Menenti, Slobodan B. Mickovski, Jan
Pfeiffer, Francesco Pilla, Julius Pro"ll, Beatrice Pulvirenti,
Martin Rutzinger, Srikanta Sannigrah, Christos Spyrou, Heikki
Tuomenvirta, Zoran Vojinovic, Thomas Zieher. An overview of
monitoring methods for assessing the performance of nature- based
solutions against natural hazards. Earth-Science Reviews, 2021;
103603 DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103603 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330121225.htm

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