DOI: 10.17603/ds2-1t4a-0463
title: Post-Flood Reconnaissance Data in Montpelier and Barre, Vermont
title: in RAPID Scholar: Post-Flood Recovery and Mitigation in Montpelier and Barre, Vermont

description: This reconnaissance mission investigated the post-flood recovery process in the heritage-rich communities of Montpelier and Barre, Vermont, approximately one year after the severe flooding event of July 2023. The primary focus was on documenting physical transformations and ongoing recovery efforts across different urban zones and building typologies, with particular attention to the impact on heritage structures.
The investigation employed uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to create a comprehensive orthomosaic and 3-D model of the urban landscape, terrestrial LiDAR scanning for precise 3D mapping of heritage structures, and Streetview photography to document ground-level details. 
The outcome of this mission is a rich, multi-layered geospatial dataset that provides a detailed snapshot of Montpelier and Barre one year into their recovery process and captures the current state of key heritage structures. This dataset is complemented by qualitative and quantitative information gathered during the field mission, to develop a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics involved in post-disaster recovery and mitigation in these heritage-rich communities.
description: The heritage-rich communities of Montpelier and Barre, Vermont, experienced devastating floods in July 2023. These events reflect the increasingly frequent and intense climate hazards affecting these areas, generating significant losses and posing threats to their cultural fabric and built heritage.
Our research project examines the post-disaster recovery and mitigation processes in these heritage-rich environments and their implications for community resilience, especially given the complex network of actors engaged in recovery and mitigation efforts, and the numerous challenges they are facing.
As part of our mixed-methods approach, we conducted a field mission to Montpelier and Barre in June 2024, approximately one year after the flood event. During this mission, we employed geospatial data collection methods, including uncrewed aerial system (UAS) imagery, terrestrial LiDAR scanning, and Streetview photography, to document the current state of the urban landscape.
The resulting dataset provides a comprehensive snapshot of both communities, capturing physical transformations and ongoing recovery efforts across different urban zones and building typologies. This geospatial information will be integrated with other qualitative and quantitative data collected during the field research to develop a nuanced understanding of recovery dynamics.
The dataset's potential applications extend beyond the immediate scope of this study. Local stakeholders and decision-makers can use this information to develop and implement targeted recovery projects and inform future flood mitigation strategies. The dataset can also serve as a baseline for longitudinal analyses of recovery trajectories, enable comparative studies with other flood-affected heritage areas, and inform evidence-based policy-making for disaster risk reduction in similar contexts.