selected publications academic article Rainey, J. L., Brody, S. D., Galloway, G. E., & Highfield, W. E. (2021). Assessment of the growing threat of urban flooding: a case study of a national survey. Urban Water Journal. 18(5), 375-381. Atoba, K. O., Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Shepard, C. C., & Verdone, L. N. (2021). Strategic property buyouts to enhance flood resilience: a multi-criteria spatial approach for incorporating ecological values into the selection process. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS. 20(3), 229-247. Mobley, W., Sebastian, A., Blessing, R., Highfield, W. E., Stearns, L., & Brody, S. D. (2021). Quantification of continuous flood hazard using random forest classification and flood insurance claims at large spatial scales: a pilot study in southeast Texas. Natural Hazards and Earth System Science. 21(2), 807-822. Mobley, W., Atoba, K. O., & Highfield, W. E. (2020). Uncertainty in Flood Mitigation Practices: Assessing the Economic Benefits of Property Acquisition and Elevation in Flood-Prone Communities. Sustainability. 12(5), 2098-2098. Mobley, W., Sebastian, A., Highfield, W., & Brody, S. D. (2019). Estimating flood extent during Hurricane Harvey using maximum entropy to build a hazard distribution model. Journal of Flood Risk Management. 12(S1), Blessing, R., Brody, S. D., & Highfield, W. E. (2019). Valuing floodplain protection and avoidance in a coastal watershed. Disasters. 43(4), 906-925. Davlasheridze, M., Atoba, K. O., Brody, S., Highfield, W., Merrell, W., Ebersole, B., Purdue, A., & Gilmer, R. W (2019). Economic impacts of storm surge and the cost-benefit analysis of a coastal spine as the surge mitigation strategy in Houston-Galveston area in the USA. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 24(3), 329-354. (2018). Examining the relationship between development patterns and total phosphorus in the Galveston Bay Estuary. Environmental Science & Policy. 88, 10-16. (2018). Estimating Residential Property Loss Reduction from a Proposed Coastal Barrier System in the Houston-Galveston Region. Natural Hazards Review. 19(3), 05018006-05018006. Highfield, W. E., Brody, S. D., & Shepard, C (2018). The effects of estuarine wetlands on flood losses associated with storm surge. Ocean and Coastal Management. 157, 50-55. Sigren, J. M., Figlus, J., Highfield, W., Feagin, R. A., & Armitage, A. R (2018). The Effects of Coastal Dune Volume and Vegetation on Storm-Induced Property Damage: Analysis from Hurricane Ike. JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH. 341(1), 164-173. Reja, M. Y., Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Newman, G. D (2017). Hurricane Recovery and Ecological Resilience: Measuring the Impacts of Wetland Alteration Post Hurricane Ike on the Upper TX Coast. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors. 60(6), 1116-1126. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Blessing, R., Makino, T., & Shepard, C. C (2017). Evaluating the effects of open space configurations in reducing flood damage along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Landscape and Urban Planning. 167, 225-231. Brody, S. D., Lee, Y., & Highfield, W. E (2017). Household adjustment to flood risk: a survey of coastal residents in Texas and Florida, United States. Disasters. 41(3), 566-586. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Wilson, M., Lindell, M. K., & Blessing, R (2017). Understanding the motivations of coastal residents to voluntarily purchase federal flood insurance. Journal of Risk Research. 20(6), 760-775. Highfield, W. E., & Brody, S. D (2017). Determining the effects of the FEMA Community Rating System program on flood losses in the United States. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 21, 396-404. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Blessing, R (2015). An Analysis of the Effects of Land Use and Land Cover on Flood Losses along the Gulf of Mexico Coast from 1999 to 2009. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 51(6), 1556-1567. Armitage, A. R., Highfield, W. E., Brody, S. D., & Louchouarn, P (2015). The contribution of mangrove expansion to salt marsh loss on the Texas Gulf Coast. PLoS One. 10(5), e0125404-e0125404. Highfield, W. E., Brody, S. D., & Blessing, R (2014). Measuring the impact of mitigation activities on flood loss reduction at the parcel level: the case of the clear creek watershed on the upper Texas coast. Natural Hazards. 74(2), 687-704. Highfield, W. E., Peacock, W. G., & Van Zandt, S (2014). Mitigation Planning. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 34(3), 287-300. Peacock, W. G., Van Zandt, S., Zhang, Y., & Highfield, W. E. (2014). Inequities in Long-Term Housing Recovery After Disasters. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. 80(4), 356-371. Highfield, W. E., & Brody, S. D (2013). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Local Mitigation Activities in Reducing Flood Losses. Natural Hazards Review. 14(4), 229-236. Brody, S. D., & Highfield, W. E (2013). Open space protection and flood mitigation: A national study. Land Use Policy. 32, 89-95. Highfield, W. E., Norman, S. A., & Brody, S. D (2013). Examining the 100-year floodplain as a metric of risk, loss, and household adjustment. Risk Anal. 33(2), 186-191. Highfield, W. E (2012). Section 404 permitting in coastal Texas: a longitudinal analysis of the relationship between peak streamflow and wetland alteration. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors. 49(4), 892-901. Van Zandt, S., Peacock, W. G., Henry, D. W., Grover, H., Highfield, W. E., & Brody, S. D. (2012). Mapping social vulnerability to enhance housing and neighborhood resilience. Housing Policy Debate. Brody, S. D., Gunn, J., Peacock, W., & Highfield, W. E (2011). Examining the Influence of Development Patterns on Flood Damages along the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 31(4), 438-448. Zahran, S., Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Vedlitz, A. (2010). Non-linear incentives, plan design, and flood mitigation: the case of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's community rating system. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 53(2), 219-239. Zahran, S., Weiler, S., Brody, S. D., Lindell, M. K., & Highfield, W. E (2009). Modeling national flood insurance policy holding at the county scale in Florida, 1999–2005. Ecological Economics. 68(10), 2627-2636. Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Highfield, W. E., Bernhardt, S. P., & Vedlitz, A. (2009). Policy learning for flood mitigation: a longitudinal assessment of the community rating system in Florida. Risk Anal. 29(6), 912-929. Brody, S. D., Davis, S. E., Highfield, W. E., & Bernhardt, S. P. (2008). A spatial-temporal analysis of section 404 wetland permitting in Texas and Florida: Thirteen years of impact along the coast. Wetlands. 28(1), 107-116. Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Highfield, W. E., Grover, H., & Vedlitz, A. (2008). Book review. Disasters. 31(4), 530-533. Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Highfield, W. E., Grover, H., & Vedlitz, A. (2008). Identifying the impact of the built environment on flood damage in Texas. Disasters. 32(1), 1-18. Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Maghelal, P., Grover, H., & Highfield, W. E (2007). The Rising Costs of Floods: Examining the Impact of Planning and Development Decisions on Property Damage in Florida. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. 73(3), 330-345. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Ryu, H., & Spanel-Weber, L (2007). Examining the relationship between wetland alteration and watershed flooding in Texas and Florida. Natural Hazards. 40(2), 413-428. Highfield, W. E., & Brody, S. D (2006). Price of Permits: Measuring the Economic Impacts of Wetland Development on Flood Damages in Florida. Natural Hazards Review. 7(3), 123-130. Brody, S. D., Carrasco, V., & Highfield, W. E (2006). Measuring the Adoption of Local Sprawl. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 25(3), 294-310. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Thornton, S (2006). Planning at the Urban Fringe: An Examination of the Factors Influencing Nonconforming Development Patterns in Southern Florida. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 33(1), 75-96. Brody, S. D., & Highfield, W. E (2005). Does Planning Work?: Testing the Implementation of Local Environmental Planning in Florida. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. 71(2), 159-175. Brody, S. D., Peck, B. M., & Highfield, W. E (2004). Examining localized patterns of air quality perception in Texas: a spatial and statistical analysis. Risk Anal. 24(6), 1561-1574. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W., Arlikatti, S., Bierling, D. H., Ismailova, R. M., Lee, L., & Butzler, R (2004). Conflict on the coast: using geographic information systems to map potential environmental disputes in Matagorda Bay, Texas. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors. 34(1), 11-25. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W., & Carrasco, V (2004). Measuring the collective planning capabilities of local jurisdictions to manage ecological systems in southern Florida. Landscape and Urban Planning. 69(1), 33-50. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W., & Alston, L (2004). Does Location Matter?. Environment and Behavior. 36(2), 229-250. Brody, S. D., Carrasco, V., & Highfield, W (2003). Evaluating ecosystem management capabilities at the local level in Florida: identifying policy gaps using geographic information systems. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors. 32(6), 661-681. book Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Kang, J. E (2011). Rising Waters. Ed. 9780521193214. Cambridge University Press. chapter Peacock, W. G., Van Zandt, S., Henry, D., Grover, H., & Highfield, W. (2012). Using social vulnerability mapping to enhance coastal community resiliency in Texas. Lessons from Hurricane Ike. (pp. 66-81). Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Merrell, W., & Lee, Y Recovery Versus Protection-Based Approaches to Flood Risk Reduction: Working Towards a Framework for More Effective Mitigation in the United States. Lindell, M. K. (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Urban Disaster Resilience. (pp. 144-156). Routledge. conference paper Sigren, J. M., Figlus, J., Highfield, W., Armitage, A. R., & Feagin, R. A (2017). Methods Evaluating the Economic Effects of Coastal Dunes in Reducing Storm-Induced Property Damage: Hurricane Ike and Texas Coast Case Study. 88-97. Brody, S. D., Highfield, W., & Peck, B. M (2005). Exploring the mosaic of perceptions for water quality across watersheds in San Antonio, Texas. Landscape and Urban Planning. 200-214.
principal investigator on Collaborative Research: Probabilistic Debris Modeling in Coastal Storm Events: A Case of Complex Coupling Between Human-Built-Natural Systems awarded by Directorate for Engineering - (Arlington, Virginia, United States) 2020 - 2023
co-principal investigator on PIRE- Coastal Flood Risk Reduction Program: Integrated, Multi-Scale Approaches for Understanding How to Reduce Vulnerability to Damaging Events awarded by National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States) 2015 - 2020
teaching activities MARB691 Research Instructor MARS325 Intro To Gis Instructor MARS491 Research Instructor MARS625 Gis Modeling Coastal Res Instructor MARS626 Adv Gis For Coastal Systems Instructor MARS685 Directed Studies Instructor MARS691 Research Instructor MARS693 Professional Study For Marm Instructor URSC691 Research Instructor URSC691 Research: In-ab Instructor
chaired theses and dissertations Casillas, Jessica C. (2018-08). Effects of Seagrass Habitat and Environmental Stressors on Blue Crab Populations in Texas. Makino, Takashi Michael (2013-05). Identifying the Impact of the Built Environment on Wildfire Property Damage in California. Rivard, Alexandria E (2017-12). Patterns in Longline Reef Fish Catch and Fishing Gear Analysis in the Gulf of Mexico Using NOAA Fishery Observer Data. Sterne, Travis Keenan (2018-08). Predictive Modeling of Mesophotic Habitats in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Sterne, Travis Keenan (2018-08). Predictive Modeling of Mesophotic Habitats in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Walters, Helen Marie (2016-08). Examination of the Spatial Relationship between Development Metrics and Total Phosphorus in the Galveston Bay Estuary.
education and training Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science, Texas A&M University - (College Station, Texas, United States) 2008