Understanding the SAGE Adaptive Gradient Framework
To best understand the SAGE framework we have included three works that best describe our research and findings.
* Research Article
* Technical Report
* Practitioners Guide
Pathways to Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework
Hamin, E.M.; Abunnasr, Y.; Roman Dilthey, M.; Judge, P.K.; Kenney, M.A.; Kirshen, P.; Sheahan, T.C.; DeGroot, D.J.; Ryan, R.L.; McAdoo, B.G.; Nurse, L.; Buxton, J.A.; Sutton-Grier, A.E.; Albright, E.A.; Marin, M.A.; Fricke, R. Pathways to Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2629.
Abstract
Current and future climate-related coastal impacts such as catastrophic and repetitive flooding, hurricane intensity, and sea level rise necessitate a new approach to developing and managing coastal infrastructure. Traditional “hard” or “grey” engineering solutions are proving both expensive and inflexible in the face of a rapidly changing coastal environment. Hybrid solutions that incorporate natural, nature-based, structural, and non-structural features may better achieve a broad set of goals such as ecological enhancement, long-term adaptation, and social benefits, but broad consideration and uptake of these approaches has been slow. One barrier to the widespread implementation of hybrid solutions is the lack of a relatively quick but holistic evaluation framework that places these broader environmental and societal goals on equal footing with the more traditional goal of exposure reduction. To respond to this need, the Adaptive Gradients Framework was developed and pilot-tested as a qualitative, flexible, and collaborative process guide for organizations to understand, evaluate, and potentially select more diverse kinds of infrastructural responses. These responses would ideally include natural, nature-based, and regulatory/cultural approaches, as well as hybrid designs combining multiple approaches. It enables rapid expert review of project designs based on eight metrics called “gradients”, which include exposure reduction, cost efficiency, institutional capacity, ecological enhancement, adaptation over time, greenhouse gas reduction, participatory process, and social benefits. The framework was conceptualized and developed in three phases: relevant factors and barriers were collected from practitioners and experts by survey; these factors were ranked by importance and used to develop the initial framework; several case studies were iteratively evaluated using this technique; and the framework was finalized for implementation. The article presents the framework and a pilot test of its application, along with resources that would enable wider application of the framework by practitioners and theorists. View Full-Text
Sustainable Adaptive Gradients Technical Report -Version 2
Buxton, J. and E. Hamin Infield (2019). Sustainable Adaptive Gradients Technical Report -Version 2. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Abstract: Current and future climate-related impacts such as catastrophic and repetitive flooding, intense heat and drought, and sea level rise necessitate a new approach to developing and managing infrastructure. Traditional “hard” or “grey” engineering solutions are proving both expensive and inflexible in the face of a rapidly changing coastal environment. Hybrid solutions that incorporate natural, nature-based, structural, and non-structural features may better achieve a broad set of goals such as ecological enhancement, long-term adaptation, and social benefits. However, broad adoption of these approaches has been slow, in part due to a lack of a relatively quick but holistic evaluation framework which places environmental and societal goals on equal footing with hazard reduction. To respond to this need, the Adaptive Gradients Framework was developed as a qualitative, flexible, and collaborative process to evaluate and potentially select more diverse, typically greener and more equitable, kinds of infrastructural responses. The Framework enables rapid expert review of project designs based on eight metrics called “gradients”; gradients include exposure reduction, cost efficiency, institutional capacity, ecological enhancement, adaptation over time, greenhouse gas reduction, participatory process, and equitable outcomes. These are customizable to the goals of the project and the agency. This technical guide presents the framework and examples of its application, along with resources to enable wider application of the framework by practitioners and theorists. Click here for full Technical Report.
A Practical Guide to Collaborative Project Evaluation
A framework for maximizing benefits from your project
E. Hamin Infield and R. Fricke. (2018) A Practical Guide to Collaborative Project Evaluation
A framework for maximizing benefits from your project. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Our climate is changing. Storms are increasing in strength and numbers. Sea levels are rising, and days of extreme heat are increasing. It is time for communities to better manage their futures. While we cannot control the weather, municipalities and community groups can build infrastructure to be more resilient. What does this mean? A community or project that is resilient can adapt to environmental, social and economic change. Infrastructure and other resiliency moves can also serve current goals, like improving ecology, reducing greenhouse gases, equity and participation. The best projects achieve multiple goals, but only the community can decide how to weight the importance of these. Click here for the full Practical Guide.