Building coastal resilience: Geodata, nature-based solutions, and blue carbon with Greg Murphy

Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and coastal erosion—these are not just future challenges, but realities that many coastal communities are facing today. How can we better prepare for these changes and protect our shorelines? In the latest episode of Blue Tech Around the World, we explore coastal resilience?with Greg Murphy, Coastal Resilience Lead at Fugro.

With decades of experience in ocean policy, innovation, and sustainability, Greg shares insights on how geodata, nature-based solutions, and blue carbon initiatives?are transforming our ability to adapt to climate change and safeguard coastal communities.

What is coastal resilience, and why does it matter?

Coastal resilience is the ability of coastal communities and ecosystems to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from?the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events. More than just protecting land, it involves safeguarding entire communities, economies, and ecosystems?through a mix of innovative solutions.

According to the IPCC, without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels could rise over a meter in the next 75 years, reshaping coastlines worldwide.

Already, nations like Fiji and the Maldives?are experiencing devastating impacts, forcing entire villages to relocate and increasing the frequency of flooding and erosion.

NOAA reports that billion-dollar disasters have become more frequent, costing the U.S. over $1.3 trillion in the last decade alone.

“These billion-dollar disasters are increasing in frequency and severity,” Greg points out. “The cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of investing in proactive solutions now.”

These challenges require science-backed, scalable, and actionable solutions, which is where companies like Fugro?play a critical role.

Fugro’s shift to climate and nature

Fugro, has been undergoing a strategic shift over the past decade to focus on climate adaptation and nature-based solutions. Recognizing the growing urgency of climate change, the company has diversified its capabilities beyond traditional industries to support offshore wind, coastal resilience, and marine conservation.

By leveraging its extensive expertise in mapping, geodata analysis, and environmental monitoring, Fugro is helping governments, industries, and international organizations integrate sustainability into their decision-making processes.

This transition aligns with global sustainability initiatives, particularly the European Green Deal, which emphasizes offshore renewable energy, carbon neutrality, and ecosystem protection.

“We’ve spent decades perfecting geodata solutions for offshore industries,” Greg says, “and now we’re applying that same expertise to nature and climate. It’s an exciting shift—one that allows us to make a real impact on resilience and sustainability.”

Fugro’s range of clients: Governments, industry, and beyond

Fugro provides geodata-driven solutions to a broad range of public and private sector clients:

• Government agencies & public institutions: National and local governments rely on Fugro for coastal resilience planning, environmental impact assessments, and blue carbon mapping. Projects like Italy’s national seagrass mapping?and the Bahamas’ blue carbon finance strategy?help shape policy and sustainable development plans.

• Industries & private sector: Companies in offshore wind, infrastructure, maritime industries, and energy?depend on Fugro for site selection, risk mitigation, and sustainability assessments?to ensure regulatory compliance and long-term viability.

• Research & conservation organizations: Fugro collaborates with NGOs, environmental groups, and universities to support marine biodiversity research, coastal adaptation studies, and innovative restoration projects.

• Financial institutions & Blue finance: Many of the solutions needed for coastal resilience and climate adaptation require significant financial investment. Banks, insurers, and investors are increasingly looking for reliable geodata?to determine where their investments will have the most impact. Financial institutions use this data for initial project assessments, risk evaluations, and long-term monitoring?to ensure maximum environmental and economic returns.

“Data is everything when it comes to financial decisions,” Greg explains. “Investors need to know their money is making a real impact. Our geodata helps them pinpoint where funds should go and ensures long-term monitoring for accountability.”

This diverse portfolio demonstrates how geodata is foundational?to informed decision-making across multiple sectors.

Green vs. Gray infrastructure: A combined approach to protection

Coastal resilience strategies rely on two types of infrastructure:

• Gray Infrastructure: Man-made structures like seawalls, dikes, and levees that physically block rising water. These structures are often essential for urban coastal areas but can be costly and have unintended consequences such as increased erosion downstream, disruption of sediment flow, and habitat destruction. Additionally, they require continuous maintenance and upgrades as climate risks evolve.

• Green Infrastructure (Nature-Based Solutions): Natural defenses such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and oyster reefs?that help mitigate storm surges, reduce flooding, and stabilize coastlines. These solutions self-repair, adapt to climate changes, and provide additional benefits like biodiversity support, carbon sequestration, and fishery enhancement. Studies show that mangroves, for example, can reduce wave height by up to 66%, making them a critical defense against extreme weather events.

Greg emphasizes that nature has already figured out how to protect our coastlines, and restoring and enhancing these natural defenses should be a priority.

The role of geodata: Mapping, Modeling, and Monitoring

Geodata?refers to spatial and environmental data?collected to understand coastal dynamics. Fugro specializes in mapping, modeling, and monitoring?using a combination of technologies:

• Mapping: Involves hydrography, seafloor surveys, and topographic analysis?to identify vulnerabilities along the coast and underwater.

• Modeling: Uses advanced simulations to project future conditions based on different climate scenarios, allowing policymakers and industries to develop data-driven adaptation strategies.

• Monitoring: Involves continuous tracking of coastal and oceanic changes using satellites, fleets of autonomous surface vessels, ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), instrumented buoys, and aerial LIDAR systems. This long-term data collection allows early warning systems for extreme weather events and ensures that adaptation measures are effective over time.

“Without accurate, up-to-date geodata,” Greg states, “decision-makers are flying blind. We provide the clarity needed to make smart, sustainable choices.”

The importance of scalability: Mapping the Caribbean & democratizing access

One of the key benefits of Fugro’s global presence and expertise?is the ability to operate at scale. Many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), for example, struggle to access high-quality geodata due to financial constraints. To address this, Fugro advocates for large-scale mapping projects?that make environmental data accessible and affordable.

A prime example is Fugro’s proposal for a comprehensive mapping initiative in the Caribbean. Instead of each island funding its own surveys independently, Fugro leverages its resources and expertise to conduct large-scale assessments, reducing costs and improving access to critical coastal resilience data.

Real-world applications of geodata for coastal resilience

• Port of San Francisco:?Fugro is leading a coastal resilience plan?that assesses seismic risks, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and sea-level rise scenarios to protect this critical economic hub. By integrating geophysical data with hydrodynamic modeling, the port is preparing for future climate challenges while ensuring sustainable economic activities.

• Italy’s national seagrass mapping project:?Fugro was selected by ISPRA?to map and monitor seagrass meadows along Italy’s coastline, which play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and shoreline stabilization. This project serves as a blueprint for other nations looking to quantify and protect their blue carbon ecosystems.

• Texas coastal resilience study:?In South Padre Island, Fugro conducted a comparative study using publicly available vs. high-resolution data, revealing that previous flood risk estimates underestimated impacted areas by 64%. The high-resolution dataset provided municipalities with precise insights, helping them develop adaptation pathways such as nature-based restoration, infrastructure reinforcements, and community-based flood preparedness plans.

• Blue carbon in the Bahamas:?The Bahamas government is leveraging blue carbon credits to finance marine conservation?while simultaneously reducing its national debt. By preserving seagrass ecosystems, they can attract investment through blue carbon markets?and promote sustainable economic growth. These conservation efforts not only enhance ecosystem resilience but also create financial incentives for governments to protect their coastal environments.

What’s next for coastal resilience? Blue carbon and marine sequestration

Greg draws a compelling parallel between offshore wind a decade ago and today’s blue carbon initiatives.

Offshore wind started as an ambitious idea, requiring years of research, policy development, and investment before becoming a mainstream energy solution.?

Similarly, blue carbon markets are at an early stage?but have the potential to become a critical part of climate mitigation strategies.

“We’re at the start of something big,” Greg predicts. “Blue carbon is where offshore wind was ten years ago—full of potential but in need of structure, investment, and monitoring.”

Another promising avenue is marine carbon sequestration, which focuses on proactively enhancing the ocean’s ability to absorb and store carbon. While research in this field is still evolving, innovative approaches such as enhanced alkalinity, kelp afforestation, and artificial upwelling systems?are being explored to boost the ocean’s natural role in climate regulation. However, Greg stresses the importance of rigorous environmental impact assessments?to ensure that these interventions do not disrupt marine ecosystems.

Listen to the Full Episode ??

Want to hear more about how geodata, nature-based solutions, and blue carbon?are shaping the future of coastal resilience? Don’t miss this episode!

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Marilou SUC

Blue growth consultant and Bluetech Podcaster

https://www.blue-connection.com/en

https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/