Natural disasters are becoming alarmingly more frequent, driven by the effects of global warming and rising carbon emissions. From floods and hurricanes to wildfires and earthquakes, these catastrophic events can severely damage local communities. The destructive force of wildfires is especially evident in regions like Los Angeles. For instance, the Palisades and Eaton fires have scorched thousands of acres, destroyed countless homes, and uprooted hundreds of families, leaving lasting scars on the affected areas. The death count in Los Angeles has climbed to 24 as of this article’s posting date, considering the harsh winds have prohibited firefighters from deploying their airborne resources. Likewise, approximately 92,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate, while 89,000 remain in areas prepared for potential evacuation.

While our hearts and hopes go out to the affected residents and their loved ones, our sights also turn to possible solutions that may mitigate and adapt to such a deadly event. Luckily, the UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) has partnered with scientists at UC San Diego to bring informative technology like EcoViz to local policymakers and community members.

EcoViz is an ambitious project, leveraging the dire necessity for communication across the nonprofit and public administration sectors during times of emergency. It is a coordinated visualization service informed by local experts that illustrates the impact of natural disasters on the surrounding community. This program can simulate scenarios that inform critical management and prevention strategies through scientific data, interactive data, and cinematic techniques. EcoViz has been used to simulate a myriad of potential solutions to natural crises, from fire management to coastal protection with reef restoration.

While this may sound like another AI-informed technology that can illustrate natural disasters before they strike, EcoViz uses a more narrative, user-centric approach to inform its data modeling. Users can leverage this technology to virtually immerse themselves in ecosystems of their choice or create “narrative-driven animations” that depict specific events and illustrate their potential outcomes or consequences.

CCCR Director Michael W. Beck emphasized the importance of addressing emerging challenges in the climate sphere in an article: “Climate change and habitat loss are creating complex new risks for communities. They need easy and compelling access to the latest scientific data to create the practical and political will to adapt to these risks.” He highlighted that this goal is the core of their collaborative efforts on cutting-edge visualizations.

The UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience has created a visualization demonstrating the flood-protection benefits of coral reefs in Miami Beach, Florida. This project features 3D visualizations by Ian Costello and Jessica Kendall-Bar, supported by hydrodynamic modeling from Camila Gaido-Lasserre and Borja Gonzalez Reguero. The graphic was taken from this article.

The adverse effects of climate change are no longer distant threats—they are unfolding in our communities today. In the aftermath of climate-related tragedies, the value of EcoViz becomes undeniable. This groundbreaking technology is revolutionizing the field of climate solutions, equipping decision-makers with the critical insights and tools they need to take decisive action and save lives. Who knows how this technology may work to prevent unimaginable tragedy and loss in the future?

EcoViz: UCSC Envisioning Climate Solutions