• Earthquake, fire, flood, tsunamis
• Risk assessment and mapping
• Post-disaster vulnerability analysis
Using a comprehensive set of quantitative tools and methodological approaches, the natural hazards team at SIG is able to precisely measure and map the risk of hazards such as earthquakes and fires in a given region. For example, we have extensive experience mapping fire risk and characterizing the social, economic, and environmental costs and benefits of fire and varying fire management options (e.g. fire suppression, prescribed burning, uncontrolled burns). We are therefore able to offer rigorous and objective strategies for improving site management of fire-related issues. Through the use of quantitative models and environmental data, we can also assess present and future site vulnerability to fire and reconstruct previous environmental conditions during a fire.
• Forest monitoring and mapping
• Carbon budget modeling
• Analysis of carbon project development components
(permanence, additionality, leakage, etc.)
The staff of SIG can help clients that are interested in monitoring forest conditions, participating in carbon exchange programs, and determining optimal management strategies. We have experience assisting clients with purchasing, auditing, verifying and certifying forest carbon offsets by providing expert services on the complex dynamics of forest ecosystems. We also evaluate different scenarios of forest management for goal optimization. This includes mapping and monitoring forests, estimating forest biomass using both remote sensing and field methods, and modeling the growth and disturbance regime of forests under different scenarios. In the process, the team at SIG can help clients determine which forest projects are likely to yield high-quality and legitimate carbon offsets.
• Land valuation
• Modeling, mapping & monitoring
• Cost-benefit & scenario analysis
Economic valuation of land is generally limited to what the market is willing to pay. However, the true worth also includes non-market value, specifically ecosystem services that nature provides for “free” to humans such as water filtration, flood protection and pollination. The extent of these services varies by land type and condition. SIG employs leading experts in the field of ecosystem service quantification and assessment. Our team uses a spatially-explicit approach to assess the costs and benefits of varying development and land-use scenarios. With its proprietary Natural Assets Information System™, which integrates an extensive literature database with a powerful query and reporting engine, SIG has helped many clients understand, quantify and map the services provided by ecosystems. This information is critical for assisting clients in making informed and sound land-use policy and planning decisions.