Our Work
Ceto provides expert evaluations that support coastal planning, infrastructure design, stormwater management, and regulatory decision-making. Our multidisciplinary team takes a comprehensive approach, placing economic, environmental, and social impacts into context. We work closely with state agencies, local governments, legal teams, and regional coalitions to inform Local Coastal Programs, climate resilience planning, and policy development.
Economic Impact & Valuation
Quantifying the value of coastal resources and infrastructure
1
Monterey County Overnight Accommodation
​Assessed lodging supply, affordability, and policy tradeoffs using STR, hotel, and geographic data to inform Coastal Act compliance.
2
San Clemente Fiscal Resilience Assessment
​Evaluated long-term municipal exposure to shoreline loss and beach-dependent revenue using budget models and economic indicators.
3
Charleston Harbor Surge Wall Benefit-Cost Review
​Conducted an independent economic review of US Army Corps of Engineers Benefit-Cost Ratio methods and distributional impacts related to proposed surge wall infrastructure.
Coastal Planning & Shoreline Management
Supporting resilient land-use and coastal decision-making
1
RCAMP Coastal Monitoring Framework
Co-developed physical and socio-ecological indicators for California’s statewide coastal adaptation tracking system.
2
Los Angeles County Beach Nourishment Valuation
Modeled the recreational value of beach width at Dockweiler and Zuma Beaches to support nourishment planning.
3
Ventura County Sediment Management Planning
​Integrated sediment budget data into coastal erosion and land use planning tools.
Climate & Infrastructure Resilience
Evaluating climate risk and adaptation strategies
1
Santa Barbara Airport Climate Vulnerability Assessment
Applied FAA-aligned methods to assess climate risk and adaptation needs for airport facilities and operations.
2
San Clemente Shoreline and Fiscal Resilience Study
Linked beach loss to long-term municipal exposure, focusing on recreational revenue and adaptation scenarios.
3
Metropolitan Water District Benefit Assessment (via CASQA)
​Quantified climate co-benefits of regional green infrastructure investments.
Public Access & Lodging Equity
Improving equitable access to California's coast
1
Monterey County Coastal Lodging Equity Study
Mapped affordability and availability of coastal accommodations using STR, hotel, and zoning data.
2
Stinson Beach Visitor Access & Use Analysis
Analyzed visitation patterns using mobility data, surveys, and site metrics to inform access equity planning.
3
Statewide Mobility Data Pilots (Ongoing)
​Partnering with state agencies to develop beach visitation indicators using mobile device data.
Regulatory & Legal Support
Providing defensible analysis for policy and litigation
1
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina
Evaluated cost-benefit assumptions and equity implications in federal infrastructure review.
2
Various Coastal Act Permitting Support (Confidential)
Provided economic impact memos and valuation models for mitigation, access, and shoreline modification cases.
3
CEQA/NEPA Fiscal Evaluations (Ongoing)
​Supporting legal and agency teams with defensible economic data.
Monitoring, Indicators & Tools
Support decision-making with better data
1
AirDNA + STR Data Integration Pilots
Leveraged commercial data for regulatory planning and regional tourism impact analysis.
2
Cellphone Mobility + Beach Visitation Analytics
Applied anonymized mobility datasets to map visitation trends at 50+ beaches across California.
3
RCAMP Metrics and Indicators Development
Created geospatial and quantitative tools to support long-term monitoring of shoreline, access, and equity trends for the California Regional Coastal Adaptation Monitoring Program (RCAMP)
Applied Research & Pubilcations
Ceto’s work is grounded in peer-reviewed research and long-standing academic collaborations. Our team contributes to applied studies on coastal resilience, access equity, sediment management, and valuation methods. These efforts bridge science and policy, supporting agency decision-making and advancing the field of coastal planning.
1
Local Recreation Area Benefits of Coastal Access Projects
Developed a novel valuation framework for estimating the recreation benefits of coastal access investments using the concept of Local Recreation Areas (LRAs). Findings support CEQA/Coastal Act compliance and benefit-cost assessments.
2
Integrating Access Equity into Coastal Program Policy
Explored how socioeconomic data and spatial analysis can support implementation of the California Coastal Act’s public access and equity goals. Developed indicators and recommendations for LCP updates.
3
Estimating Beach Visitation Using Mobile Device Data
Analyzed visitation patterns across 50+ Southern California beaches using anonymized mobility data. Findings support coastal access equity indicators and have informed agency planning efforts.