GRI is proud to spotlight the release of the GEO Projects new, 9-part QGIS tutorial series: “Dealing with Coastal Flooding” A hands-on, skill-building resource designed for GIS professionals, emergency managers, planners, researchers, and students working at the intersection of spatial data and coastal resilience.

As coastal communities face increasing threats from sea level rise, storm surge, and more frequent flood events, the need for practical, accessible tools to model and assess flooding impacts is more important than ever. This tutorial series provides a structured, real-world approach to understanding and visualizing coastal flooding through the lens of open-source GIS.

Using real data and powerful QGIS tools, each tutorial walks users through a complete geospatial workflow from processing LiDAR data to creating 3D visualizations and time-based animations of projected flood scenarios. Along the way, users will gain valuable experience in data preparation, raster analysis, machine learning classification, and hydrologic modeling.

The series was authored by Dr. Krzysztof Raczynski, a faculty member of the GEO Project. Dr. Raczynski is a researcher in the field of hydrologic science, with a particular focus on advancing predictive tools and methodologies for managing water-related natural hazards. His work centers on improving the accuracy of flood and drought forecasting models, especially in the Southeastern United States—a region that frequently experiences extreme weather patterns and climate variability.

Tutorial Series:

• Part 1: Creating Raster DEM from LiDAR Data
  Learn how to convert raw LiDAR point cloud data into high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs).
  
• Part 2: Spatial Predicates: Preparing Residential Data
  Understand spatial relationships and filter relevant residential data for flood impact assessment.
  
• Parts 3A & 3B: Land Use/Land Cover Classification Using Machine Learning
  Apply both unsupervised classification and supervised classification techniques to create meaningful land cover maps.
  
• Part 4: Hydrologic Raster Preparation: Resampling & Stream Burning
  Refine elevation data to more accurately model water flow paths and drainage patterns.
  
• Part 5: Generating Flooding Extent with Raster Calculator
  Simulate flooding based on elevation thresholds and visualize impacted areas.
  
• Part 6: Calculating Spatial Statistics of Inundated Areas
  Quantify land use, infrastructure, or population metrics within the flood zone.
  
• Part 7: Creating 3D Maps of Flooding Projections
  Bring your flood scenarios to life with detailed, elevation-aware 3D maps.
  
• Part 8: 3D Map Animations
  Animate flooding events over time to help communicate risk to decision-makers and the public.
  
• Part 9: Creating and Animating Time Series
  Build time-aware visualizations that show how flooding may change under different scenarios or timelines.
  

Why This Matters

This series doesn’t just teach GIS skills, it builds capacity for climate adaptation and disaster resilience. Whether you're new to QGIS or looking to advance your expertise in 3D mapping, remote sensing, or flood modeling, these tutorials provide real-world applications that can directly support planning and preparedness efforts in vulnerable coastal regions.

All tutorials are freely available and designed for self-paced learning. We invite you to explore the series, and follow along with the datasets provided, and use these tools to make a tangible impact in your community or field of work.

You can find more GIS Tutorials at the GEO Project Gulf Coast Geospatial Hub.