Landscape Scenario Visualization for Climate Adaptation Planning in Rockport, Massachusetts

This case study reviews the efforts of design researchers to incorporate visualization into the scenario planning process for the seasonal Long Beach neighborhood in Rockport, Massachusetts. Faced with environmental and public access challenges due to climate change impacts, as well as engineering and economic difficulties, design researchers took a place-based approach to visualize how past choices increased climate vulnerability on this developed barrier beach—and what future interventions might accomplish under different scenarios.  

The resulting visualizations communicate long-term land use changes and infrastructure development on the beach, as well as current climate vulnerabilities and future adaptation scenarios. The report also helped to establish the trade-offs among natural communities (groups of species that are found together repeatedly in particular environmental conditions), physical infrastructure systems, access, and ownership. This expanded the dialogue about Long Beach beyond its aging seawall to a broader range of options.