A web-based screening model for climate risk to water supply systems in the northeastern United States. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whateley, Sarah; Walker, Jeffrey D.; Brown, Casey
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 73(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Climate change -- Water management -- Risk -- Decision support tool; 00-01 -- 99-00; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study is to describe the development and application of a web-based decision support tool (ViRTUE) for performing climate risk evaluations of water supply systems. The tool is designed for small-scale water utilities in the northeastern United States that may lack the resources for detailed climate change risk investigations. Development of this tool demonstrates a relatively new approach to web application development using the Shiny framework for the R programming language to create an interactive environment for stakeholders and water managers to explore climate vulnerabilities. Using a decision-scaling framework, the tool allows the user to perform a climate stress test to evaluate the performance and vulnerability to water supply shortfalls of local reservoir systems over a wide range of potential climate change scenarios using a generic systems model. Probabilities of future climate conditions derived from climate projections then help inform utility operators of impending risk. Highlights: We develop a web-based decision support tool for climate risk assessment. The tool allows users to perform a climate stress test on a water supply system. We illustrate a relatively new approach to web application development in R. The tool makes climate risk investigations more accessible to small utilities.