PRISM was launched in the Philippines in 2024, supported by the PROBLUE initiative of the World Bank, and in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST–PAGASA), and local government partners.
Inundation Mapping
Practitioner Inundation Scenarios Mapping project (PRISM): A PEERS-NASA Co-Production Project
Project Overview
PRISM is providing critically needed, usable tools to help communities understand and respond to sea level rise (SLR) and related coastal threats: high quality, localized inundation maps displaying future coastal flooding scenarios. The maps are co-developed with coastal communities, focusing on the incorporation of local data and knowledge. Through the co-development process, the project supports development of management policies and practices that will help create resilience to coastal hazards, both near and long-term.
The project has been managed by an innovative collaboration led by PEERS, a global community of practice; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Sea Level Change Team (N-SLCT), with its world class data and visualization capabilities; and adaptation practitioner leaders themselves intending to use this tool for coastal resilience planning. PEERS led pilot projects in the Philippines and two major coastal cities in Latin America, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, to identify and engage practitioners, understand local needs, co-develop technical products, and provide technical training to support adaptation planning. The N-SLCT team provided high resolution satellite altimetry data of historic local water levels, local digital land surface model outputs, and the latest regionalized SLR projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. These datasets, alongside additional technical expertise and modeling, supported co-development of state-of-the-art inundation mapping visualization tools. These tools are provided at no cost to engaged practitioners.
PRISM Philippines
As an archipelagic country, the Philippines is highly vulnerable to sea level rise due to its extensive coastline and reliance on coastal resources. Furthermore, compound flooding driven by typhoons exacerbates coastal risk.
Applying a co-production approach in creating inundation maps, PRISM partnered with four pilot study areas: Navotas City in Manila Bay, Lapu Lapu City in Mactan Island, the Danajon Bank (Bohol Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef Management Council, consisting of 10 local government units), and the Municipality of Del Carmen in Siargao Island.
PRISM worked closely with DOST-PAGASA in determining the sea level rise projections to be used. Because local partners were interested in understanding how sea level rise can aggravate storm surge risk, PRISM also produced visualizations for still water elevation of specific storm surge scenarios for each study area.
In early 2025, PEERS gathered over 90 representatives from the pilot study sites, various government agencies and non-government organizations, and local technical experts for a 3-day workshop in Manila. Participants reviewed draft inundation maps and discussed ways the maps can support adaptation planning. The workshop also explored gray and green adaptation approaches and compound threats that can exacerbate local flooding. The collaboration demonstrated the important role that co-production between practitioners and scientists plays in creating tailored tools that address local adaptation needs.
