Understanding the System to Design Resilient Solutions: Data-Driven Approaches for Coastal Green-Gray Infrastructure
Designing effective coastal green-gray infrastructure requires an understanding of how dynamic coastal systems are changing over time.
In this technical session of the Global Green-Gray Community of Practice, Joseph Schmidt, Director of Conservation International's Green-Gray Infrastructure Program, will build on CI's work across the North Brazil Shelf to explore its highly dynamic coastal system and why understanding this nature is essential for designing effective and resilient interventions.
Nick Brady, CTO of Natrx, will then take participants into the technical assessment behind this work, introducing shoreline change analysis and its application across Guyana and Suriname. Drawing on satellite imagery and standardized coastal-change measurements, he will demonstrate how large-scale datasets can reveal patterns that are difficult to capture through isolated site assessments, and how those data can be combined with information on infrastructure and other coastal assets to support more informed planning and design.
The session will also explore the value of establishing consistent, shareable coastal baselines that can be maintained over time — supporting comparison across sites, informing where more detailed analysis and investment may be needed, and creating a stronger basis for assessing the performance of coastal resilience interventions.
About the Global Green-Gray Community of Practice (G3CoP)
The G3CoP is a global platform convened by Conservation International that brings together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working to advance the application of green–gray infrastructure for climate adaptation. The community focuses on sharing practical knowledge, strengthening capacity, and supporting the integration of nature-based and hybrid solutions into infrastructure planning and investment.