The Caribbean is a region known for its vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes. However, it is also particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Its small island nations are highly susceptible to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to global warming. Additionally, the rising sea levels pose a significant threat to coastal communities and ecosystems, putting the lives, property, and livelihoods of over 40 million residents at risk.
In response to this crisis, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), also known as the 5Cs, partnered with NV5 on a groundbreaking initiative to develop resilience against these threats. The cornerstone of this initiative is a series of aerial lidar and orthoimagery surveys conducted across various Caribbean nations. Funded by entities like the Caribbean Development Bank and Global Affairs Canada, this project will provide advanced geospatial data to help the island nations understand natural and man-induced climate changes. Covering areas in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tobago, and Turks and Caicos, the project aims to understand the impact of climate variability and identify potential hazards.
Jared Ritchey, NV5 Flight Operations Manager, highlighted the unique challenges faced when surveying the Caribbean region, emphasizing its varied geography and climate. He noted, “The region’s diverse landscape, including mountains, forests, and coastlines, poses difficulties in accessing and surveying certain areas.” He also pointed out the project’s vast coverage area, spanning over 3,000 kilometers across 10 different sites, with vast expanses of ocean in between, requiring meticulous planning and coordination for efficient data collection. Additionally, he mentioned the presence of microclimates around the tropical islands, leading to highly variable weather conditions, cloud formations, and visibility issues, particularly in areas with high relief or dense jungles, which can disrupt surveying efforts.
Regarding the specifics of the operation, Ritchey explained that they were in the second year of a multi-year contract to fly and collect data, with survey operations commencing in winter 2023. He noted, “Between last year and this year, we made some changes based on our on-the-ground and in-the-air experience.” They switched to using a different type of aircraft, opting for a Cessna Caravan aircraft instead of a Piper Navajo aircraft used last year, primarily due to improved fuel access and more favorable scheduled maintenance intervals. This improvement in operational readiness directly led to increased production during this year’s campaign. Ritchey mentioned that understanding how each country operates their aviation and meteorological groups was key, and using the Caravan aircraft was a significant improvement. He recalled that last year, they constantly encountered severe weather and had a bird strike during a low-level flight, resulting in a severely damaged flight surface that took three weeks to repair. However, he expressed that they had been luckier this year, with favorable weather conditions allowing them to be weeks ahead of schedule.
By conducting topographic and topobathymetric lidar surveys, and collecting orthoimagery, the initiative will offer valuable insights into the changing landscape of the Caribbean. This data will play a crucial role in disaster preparedness, environmental management, urban planning, and policymaking, laying the foundation for a more resilient future in the face of climate change.
Stay tuned for our next post, where we will dive deeper into the applications of the geospatial data collected through this project and explore the real-world impacts on the Caribbean nations involved.