Project Highlights
At the VTCC we work to connect Virginia Tech researchers and students with stakeholders who are in need of support through scholarly work, data analysis, equipment assistance, expertise, and opportunity. We work to identify needs and find the most effective way that our campus can help. From water quality testing on Tribal land to 3D modeling for the Department of Defense, the VTCC creates mutually beneficial partnerships that unite under Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim.
Extension and Agriculture
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) integrates resiliency into agriculture and extension work, ensuring that solutions effectively address challenges and long-term sustainability for communities and stakeholders.
NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge: Community Agricultural Resilience through Extension (CARE)
The goal of this project is to create a collaborative that will better prepare extension educators and related groups across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware to be effective partners in ongoing and future resiliency efforts in rural communities, with a particular emphasis on areas where agriculture plays a key role in the local economy and culture.
Interdisciplinary Research and Extension Training for Next-Generation Seafood (funding cancelled)
Increase the awareness of seafood related research and career opportunities among undergraduate students, especially from minority groups, through recruitment and career development activities.
Military Partnerships
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) supports local military efforts by applying Virginia Tech’s expertise to develop resilient solutions that address environmental and infrastructure challenges critical to military operations and readiness.
Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator Center Conducted research to create climate change scenario modeling and field data collection for locations on JBLE Langley Air Force Base.
Tribal Engagement
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) actively engages with local tribal communities to advance its mission through collaborative scientific research and tailored support initiatives.
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Ches Bay Small Watershed Grant: Serving the Nansemond Indian Nation in Community Resilience through Adaptation of The RAFT Process
The RAFT is a planning process that approaches community resilience holistically by considering environmental, social, and economic resilience.
Resilient Communities
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) creates resilient communities by addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges through collaborative partnerships.
Implementation of RAFT (Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool) with Historic Triangle Localities
This project aims to provide ongoing support for the RAFT process to help communities in the Historic Triangle Localities (James City County, York County, and City of Williamsburg) advance their resilience priorities.
Appalachian Resilience in SWVA (funding cancelled)
This project aims to conduct interdisciplinary research to explore how renewable energy development can be integrated into broad-based community resilience planning to benefit under-resourced communities in Appalachia.
RAFT continued Implementation Support for the Crater Region
The RAFT is a planning process that evaluates and enhances community resilience by addressing environmental, social, and economic factors through assessment, development, and implementation of tailored resilience strategies. This project aims to provide ongoing support for the RAFT process to help communities in the Crater Region advance their resilience priorities.
Coastal Stormwater Center of the Southeast
This project led by the Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. aims to establish and maintain a Coastal Stormwater Center to enhance stormwater infrastructure in the southeastern U.S., aiming to improve public health, environmental protection, climate resilience, and address environmental justice issues.
Water Quality
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) enhances water quality through collaborative projects that leverage Virginia Tech’s research and resources to address environmental challenges and implement effective solutions.
Understanding the Prevalence, Transport, and Biogeochemical Transformations of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) Across Watersheds with Socioeconomic Disadvantaged Urban Communities
Addressing the extent of coastal urban CECs present via a key potential pathway: sewage leaked from aging sewer infrastructure reaching stormwater conveyance networks.
Investigation of Traditional and Innovative Stormwater Best Management Practices to Reduce Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Communities
This project is focused on providing a regional outreach and education program that engages populations in disadvantaged communities.
Coastal Zone Observatory: Tracing the Micro- and Nanoplastic Cycle in the Environment
Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been widely detected in marine environment, freshwater systems, sediments, soil, and the atmosphere. The omnipresence of MNP pollution has led to well-documented threats to ecosystems and human health. One of the many challenges in understanding the risks of MNPs lies in addressing multiple sources and pathways of MNPs. This project utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to advance beyond simple detection of MNPs in a single matrix, instead focusing on understanding their environmental fate in a holistic manner. The collaborative effort includes experts from Virginia Tech and the VTCC, focusing on Hampton, VA, as a case study.
Global Distinction
The Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator (VTCC) has collaborated with global partners to advance its mission by integrating diverse expertise and solutions for coastal resilience and adaptation.
Compassion International
Compassion International (CI) is a ministry-based non-profit aiding whose primary goals are to provide food security and access to clean and safe water to children living in poverty. CI also assists in healthcare, disaster relief, and educational opportunities for youth and caregivers.
Prior Projects
UNBOUND for Coastal Issues
This workshop series led by Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator and Old Dominion University GeoSEA worked with coastal zone end users to understand how NASA’s spatiotemporal earth science data can be more easily accessible and usable to them. This workshop focused on broadening the use of NASA datasets by agency planners, resilience officials, emergency management GIS managers, academic and governmental scientists, and non-governmental agencies for coastal zone management, flood risk management, and sea level rise and subsidence.