What MACRL Does
The Marine Affairs Coastal Resilience Lab (MACRL) is a research group in the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Marine Affairs. It studies how coastal communities, government agencies, and infrastructure operators prepare for and respond to storms, flooding, and other coastal hazards, combining planning, policy, social science, and engineering. The lab is led by Professor Austin Becker and works directly with the agencies that use its research.
CHAMP: Real-Time Storm Forecasting for Rhode Island
MACRL’s core project is CHAMP (Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling and Prediction), also called RICHAMP. Operational since 2022, CHAMP is a real-time, multi-hazard storm forecasting system built in partnership with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). It’s used operationally by RIEMA, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), and has supported roughly five storm events since launch. Real-time forecasting currently covers Rhode Island; the system has also been implemented regionally across Southern New England for planning purposes.
Port and Maritime Infrastructure Resilience
A second research line examines how seaports and maritime infrastructure are treated in coastal resilience planning, including cases where they’re left out entirely. Recent work includes a case study on the Port of Providence, alongside international contexts including small island developing states.
Funding and Leadership
MACRL is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, NOAA, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and private philanthropy. Professor Austin Becker directs the lab alongside research associates, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CHAMP? CHAMP (RICHAMP) is MACRL’s real-time storm and flood forecasting system, operational in Rhode Island since 2022 and used by RIEMA, RIDOT, and CRMC. It has been activated numerous times for storm events and has also been implemented regionally across Southern New England for planning purposes.
Who leads MACRL? Professor Austin Becker, Chair of URI’s Department of Marine Affairs, directs MACRL.
What does MACRL research? Real-time coastal storm forecasting through CHAMP, and how seaports and maritime infrastructure are addressed (or overlooked) in resilience planning, domestically and internationally.
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About the Lab Director
Professor Austin Becker is Chair of the Department of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island. He leads CHAMP (Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling and Prediction), a real-time system that delivers storm surge, wind, and flood decision support to Rhode Island emergency managers, with regional implementation across Southern New England for planning purposes.
His broader research focuses on the resilience of maritime infrastructure and seaports, in particular how ports, coastal supply chains, and maritime communities prepare for and recover from extreme weather and climate change. Professor Becker has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and secured more than $5.5 million in external funding. His work has influenced practice at institutions including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Professor Becker holds a PhD in Environment and Resources from Stanford University, is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellow, and maintains a USCG 500 Ton Oceans Captain License. He was appointed by Governor Dan McKee to the Science and Technical Advisory Board of the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4). His research has been covered by the New York Times, The Boston Globe, NPR’s All Things Considered, and the Financial Times.
Professor Becker currently serves as Chair of the Department of Marine Affairs and the Director of the Graduate Certificate in Coastal Resilience program.
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Selected Recent Publications
Becker, A., et al. (2026). Coastal hazards preparedness through wargaming, modeling, and simulation. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. DOI
Adams, S., Becker, A. (2026). Avoidable Consequences: Using Advanced Storm Simulation to Help Emergency Managers Improve Outcomes. Journal of Emergency Management.
Hallisey, N., Becker, A., et al. (2025). From Design to Decision Making: Emergency Manager Participation in the Development of Coastal Storm Decision Support Tools. Journal of Disaster Science and Management. DOI
McElroy, K., Becker, A. (2025). Factors Influencing Flood Risk Management Integration in U.S. Municipal Planning: An Expert Mental Model Approach. Journal of Flood Risk Management.
Adams, S., Becker, A., et al. (2025). Practice as You Play: Using Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Exercises to Evaluate a Storm Decision Support Tool. Journal of Coastal and Riverine Flood Risk.
Verschuur, J., Becker, A. (2025). Sustainability trade-offs of port adaptation at scale. PLOS One Climate.
Stempel, P., Becker, A., et al. (2025). Coastal Hazards Analysis Modelling and Prediction: Collaborative Model-Driven Multi-hazard Forecasting and Planning. Digital Landscape Architecture.
Full publication list and CV →
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