"}],"short_description":"The StoryMaps team and George McLeod discuss his use of GIS to plan for and communicate the effects of sea level rise and tidal flooding. ","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Dr. George McLeod","author_profession_organization":"Director of the Center for Geospatial Science, Education, and Analytics at Old Dominion University","image":{"ID":2074342,"id":2074342,"title":"","filename":"george-mcleod-crop-1.png","filesize":152308,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/george-mcleod-crop-2","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"","name":"george-mcleod-crop-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-12 20:34:09","modified":"2023-09-12 20:34:20","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":280,"height":280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","medium-width":261,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","medium_large-width":280,"medium_large-height":280,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","large-width":280,"large-height":280,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","1536x1536-width":280,"1536x1536-height":280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","2048x2048-width":280,"2048x2048-height":280,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","card_image-width":280,"card_image-height":280,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/george-mcleod-crop-1.png","wide_image-width":280,"wide_image-height":280}},"text":"Whether I\u2019m presenting at a scientific meeting, conference, or in my classroom, I\u2019m always thinking of the outcome and what message I\u2019m driving toward\u2014and you need to be willing to adapt to your audience. "},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Dr. George McLeod is the Director of the Center for Geospatial Science, Education, and Analytics at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he guides the development, implementation, and operation of the University\u2019s geospatial and data visualization staff and resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. McLeod has advocated using GIS to <\/span>identify<\/span> and solve problems for <\/span>nearly two<\/span> decades.<\/span> In 2004, he began working at ODU as a GIS engineer, <\/span>desi<\/span>g<\/span>ning and leading<\/span> innovative <\/span>GIS initiatives <\/span>on campus<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>n 2009, Dr. McLeod <\/span>expanded his work to sea level rise and coastal resilience, becoming a beacon for <\/span>the state of Virginia in <\/span>its<\/span> efforts to create a coastal resilience master plan.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The StoryMaps team recently sat down with Dr. McLeod to discuss his use of GIS to plan for and communicate the effects of sea level rise and tidal flooding. The following conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074932,"id":2074932,"title":"","filename":"separators-2.png","filesize":20249,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/separators-2","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"","name":"separators-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-13 17:36:53","modified":"2023-09-13 17:37:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1024,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2-213x175.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":175,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":79,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":131,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":175,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2-826x141.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":141,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","wide_image-width":1024,"wide_image-height":175}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. Like many <\/span>undergrads<\/span>, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I just picked something and landed on marketing, and I muddled my way through. As time went on, I reflected and realized that many good things did come from the marketing degree, namely that <\/span>perception<\/span> is so important, and the story is so important\u2014<\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> using a story to sell an idea.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. <\/span>After school, I took a position in insurance in the nearby coastal city of Virginia Beach.<\/span> During my eight years in insurance, I saw the ties between coastal science and the socioeconomic impacts of water events on the community. Around the same time, I met with Tom Allen, a GIS faculty member and surfer. He shared his experiences collecting data in the field and then working through that data on the computer. Those discussions inspired me to return to school, this time for a bachelor\u2019s degree in GIS, followed by a master\u2019s and Ph.D. in oceanography.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. Sure. NOAA recently released its <\/span>Annual High Tide Flooding Outlook<\/span><\/a>, and the projection is 15-19 days in 2023 of high tide flooding in the Norfolk area. On one of my usual routes to work, there\u2019s a point where I can look toward the houses lining the water and identify how low or high the water is. If it\u2019s at a certain height, I know part of my route is flooded ahead, and I need to pivot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Having observed this over almost 20 years of driving to ODU, I can attest to our regional flooding worsening over time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. Community engagement or interest was limited 20 years ago, though there were faculty at ODU advocating its significance. In particular, an oceanographer, <\/span>Larry Atkinson<\/span><\/a> was integral to the first sea level studies in the area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite only a small group of people paying attention, Larry really persevered by organizing meetings, bringing together municipal partners, and building coalitions. In the two decades since his early efforts, community engagement and cooperation have grown immensely, with our local, regional, and state agencies playing a critical role in planning for future sea level rise. <\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. Definitely. Larry\u2019s work helped set the tone that, despite any given differences that we all have, it\u2019s important to get everyone in a room and try to work out things from a collective approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Municipal lines don\u2019t mean anything to a fire or a flood, so the community beginning to recognize that they have a common problem helped move the needle forward. And it\u2019s the essential things\u2014flooding can be an existential threat for someone who needs daily medical care, for instance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074432,"id":2074432,"title":"norfolkflood_gm","filename":"norfolkflood_gm.png","filesize":5374952,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/norfolkflood_gm","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"A \"sunny day flood\" in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 9, 2020. ","name":"norfolkflood_gm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-12 21:13:33","modified":"2023-09-13 16:14:04","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1934,"height":1450,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm.png","medium-width":348,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm.png","large-width":1440,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm-1536x1152.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm.png","2048x2048-width":1934,"2048x2048-height":1450,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm-620x465.png","card_image-width":620,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/norfolkflood_gm-1440x1080.png","wide_image-width":1440,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. <\/span>Yes<\/span>, <\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span> recently <\/span>started working with a new group, <\/span><\/span>Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium<\/span><\/span><\/a>, which <\/span>focuses<\/span> on broadly addressing community health challenges, and our part is to <\/span>utilize<\/span> geospatial tools to analyze the intersection between socioeconomically depressed communities and flood risks<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. The naval station was actually one of the first groups to do a study on sea level rise, even before it was necessarily acceptable to discuss sea level because they have a mission readiness mandate.<\/span><\/p>\n It can be something as routine as flooded roads preventing military personnel from getting to work on time. The navy needed to understand the threat very well to put strategies in place to maintain their readiness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. I don\u2019t remember the exact starting point, but it probably began in the early 2000s with conversations with other GIS practitioners and NOAA staff about how to use their data and tools to analyze flooding at a local level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today, sea level rise and flood modeling have become ubiquitous, and companies like Esri are making the work much more manageable. Still, when I started, data was challenging to find\u2014and often needed to be transferred using hard drives. We would go over to a municipal office with a 40 GB hard drive and ask if we could copy whatever data they had.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. I can. I met <\/span>Keith VanGraafieland<\/span><\/a>, now an engineer at Esri, while I was completing my master\u2019s in oceanography, and I really respected his ability to dig into the technical components of geospatial data. We developed a collaborative relationship that continued to push us forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Between us, it\u2019s often like a challenging game of leapfrog in that we are constantly asking questions of each other, identifying problems, and seeking solutions together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074562,"id":2074562,"title":"","filename":"coastalfloodin_agsm.png","filesize":4479970,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/coastalfloodin_agsm","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"A map of Norfolk, Virginia, showing where places are likely to experience flooding due to sea level rise (blue) and low elevation areas (green). Click to read Coastal Flooding, created by NOAA\/NOS, ODU, and Esri using ArcGIS StoryMaps. ","name":"coastalfloodin_agsm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-12 22:34:22","modified":"2023-09-13 18:34:42","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1868,"height":1052,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":433,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","large-width":1868,"large-height":1052,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm-1536x865.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":865,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","2048x2048-width":1868,"2048x2048-height":1052,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm-826x465.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coastalfloodin_agsm.png","wide_image-width":1868,"wide_image-height":1052}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/4faf6d052c8f41b3b9b99c506642bca5"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. Now, data are so abundant that sifting through and making sense of it all has become the modern challenge. In the past, it seemed that researchers, planners, and municipalities were using a wide range of publicly available data and information from a multitude of agencies and sources. This led to a confusing abundance of different, and sometimes conflicting, resources populating a web search for sea level rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We had some connections at the state level, and in 2018, they were interested in creating a coastal resilience master plan and wanted inundation modeling for the entire state of Virginia. NOAA had some related resources, but the state was explicitly interested in creating flood risk maps for an intermediate high scenario, which was yet to be available.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074612,"id":2074612,"title":"ih_slr_scenario","filename":"ih_slr_scenario.png","filesize":1877719,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/ih_slr_scenario","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"Click to interact with the 360 VR Experience by Esri and ODU depicting an intermediate high sea level rise (SLR) scenario in Norfolk, Virginia.","name":"ih_slr_scenario","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-12 23:14:31","modified":"2023-09-13 18:12:56","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1870,"height":1050,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":431,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","large-width":1870,"large-height":1050,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario-1536x862.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":862,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","2048x2048-width":1870,"2048x2048-height":1050,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario-826x465.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ih_slr_scenario.png","wide_image-width":1870,"wide_image-height":1050}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/360vr\/index.html?id=37251e0047b34f91b00eb95729072a49"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" We then spent a few months creating those models for the tidally influenced coastal areas subject to potential sea level rise. The resulting data and maps became the foundation to inform much of the Commonwealth’s decision-making, and local and regional governments followed suit. The state then hired a consultant to produce the <\/span>coastal resilience master plan<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. It begins with awareness\u2014people must be aware of the problem. Then, you need to discuss your risk tolerance, both on personal and municipal levels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On a personal level, buying a home on the coast here takes significant consideration. Am I willing to tolerate a total loss? It\u2019s hard to have an honest conversation with yourself, but considering the potential outcome, it is necessary.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On a municipal or regional level, it\u2019s important to understand risk tolerance when building new or supporting infrastructure. This is really where our modeling at the intermediate high level comes into play\u2014to demonstrate a slightly risk-averse level that is plausible and that we can plan for.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly, listen to the scientists! Some people want to lump scientists in with politicians and ask, \u201cHow do I know I can trust them?\u201d If you find yourself doubting scientists, just hang out with some, and you will find that they hold each other\u2019s feet to the fire to such a high degree\u2014the idea of a massive global conspiracy by scientists is absurd.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074832,"id":2074832,"title":"cmra","filename":"cmra-scaled.png","filesize":2116618,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-scaled.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/cmra","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"Click to interact with Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA), an ArcGIS Hub resource to help people assess their local exposure to climate-related hazards.","name":"cmra","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-13 17:14:28","modified":"2023-09-13 17:14:44","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1292,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-scaled.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":234,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-scaled.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":388,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-scaled.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":969,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-1536x775.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":775,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-2048x1034.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1034,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-826x417.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":417,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cmra-1920x969.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":969}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/resilience.climate.gov\/"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" A. I think it\u2019s the undercurrent to everything. Whether I\u2019m presenting at a scientific meeting, conference, or in my classroom, I\u2019m always thinking of the outcome and what message I\u2019m driving toward\u2014and you need to be willing to adapt to your audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Like so many other faculty members, I\u2019ve been halfway through a lecture and noticed that heads are on desks. Maybe we do have a great idea, but I liken communicating that great idea to a Rubik\u2019s Cube\u2014you constantly have your hands on it, trying to figure out what the best combination is, and it\u2019s different for every audience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That’s what I love about GIS tools and visualization. We have options ranging from heavy analytical work to lighter-weight informational products like ArcGIS StoryMaps. It’s possible to tailor your message depending on your audience, whether government officials, scientists, or the public.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074932,"id":2074932,"title":"","filename":"separators-2.png","filesize":20249,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/separators-2","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"","name":"separators-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-13 17:36:53","modified":"2023-09-13 17:37:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1024,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2-213x175.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":175,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":79,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":131,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":175,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2-826x141.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":141,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/separators-2.png","wide_image-width":1024,"wide_image-height":175}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" This featured storyteller interview was prepared as a part of the October 2023 | Growing green cities and communities<\/a> issue of StoryScape\u2120.<\/p>\n For more interviews and articles like this one, be sure to check out\u00a0StoryScape\u2120<\/a>, a monthly digital magazine for ArcGIS StoryMaps that explores the world of place-based storytelling \u2014 with a new theme every issue.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nQ. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, George. Can you tell us a bit about your background?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. <\/span>Needless to say, m<\/span>arketing isn\u2019t exactly oceanography<\/span>.<\/span> How did you <\/span>transition<\/span> from one to the other?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. This led to your work in sea level rise and tidal <\/span>flooding<\/span>, specifically for Norfolk, Virginia. <\/span>For those unfamiliar with the area, <\/span>could you give us a <\/span>local<\/span> perspective<\/span> on<\/span> why these topic<\/span>s a<\/span>re so significant there?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2074402,"id":2074402,"title":"","filename":"Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","filesize":89798,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/rising-to-the-challenge\/screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2-02-06-pm","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"A chart showing the number of projected high tide flooding (HTF) days at intermediate high per decade at Sewell's Point, a peninsula in Norfolk, Virginia from NOAA\/NOS\/Center for Operational Oceanic Products and Services. ","name":"screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2-02-06-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2074032,"date":"2023-09-12 21:02:22","modified":"2023-09-12 21:02:51","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":992,"height":814,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","medium-width":318,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":630,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","large-width":992,"large-height":814,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","1536x1536-width":992,"1536x1536-height":814,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","2048x2048-width":992,"2048x2048-height":814,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM-567x465.png","card_image-width":567,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-2.02.06-PM.png","wide_image-width":992,"wide_image-height":814}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov\/high-tide-flooding\/annual-outlook.html"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. Regularly flooded roads must certainly <\/span>impact<\/span> the community of Norfolk. What has community engagement with sea level rise looked like<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. Bringing together groups of people over what many consider a controversial topic is no small feat.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. Are you using GIS to help address <\/span>these <\/span>potential threats<\/span>, also?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. Along with the public community, Norfolk is home to the world\u2019s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk. Has the military community <\/span>impacted<\/span> the state\u2019s efforts in climate modeling?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. You were<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at the forefront of climate modeling using GIS<\/span>. How did you get started with that work?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. <\/span>Many times, innovat<\/span>ion<\/span> require<\/span>s<\/span> a partner-in-crime to help push it along. <\/span>Can you relate?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. Can you talk a bit about the current data landscape and how that evolved to working with the state of Virginia?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q. <\/span>You\u2019ve<\/span> spent the last 20 years compiling, sifting through, and communicating sea level data. What advice do you have for someone just getting <\/span>acquainted with this topic<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Q.<\/span> It\u2019s<\/span> clear you find <\/span>great value<\/span> in communication. <\/span>To end, could you tell us how that affects the way you teach and speak to others about your work?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"