The Dynamic Adaptation Pathways (DAP) framework is a planning tool that helps communities plan for the future by looking at the effectiveness of different solutions over time. This framework allows communities to adjust their plans as circumstances change, ensuring that the chosen approach remains effective and aligned with their goals. 

The DAP framework uses a visual approach to show the order in which different adaptation actions should be taken. These actions are shown as lines, each representing a specific strategy. The framework helps identify when certain actions are effective, when they start to lose their effectiveness, and when they reach a point where they can no longer achieve their intended goals. Once an action reaches this "tipping point," it might either stop or continue with reduced effectiveness. This could prompt communities to consider switching to a different adaptation action. Throughout the DAP process, communities plan their preferred path for achieving their goals, while remaining flexible enough to adapt if their goals or the climate conditions change.

The left image is the DAP for that neighborhood with the solutions for the theme boxed to the right. The neighborhood map allows viewers to view the solutions in the area that this solution will be effective. 

A key to interpreting the dynamic adaptation pathways figures is below. The pathways associated with each action are color-coded by theme. There are four themes: maintain road pathway (yellow), elevate road pathway (red), abandon road pathway (blue), and Living with Water (blue). As you move left to right along a pathway for a particular action, at key time steps you will encounter a “transfer station.” These transfer stations represent decision points and opportunities to transition or shift to a different action (i.e., move up or down along one of the vertical paths when a change in approach is decided upon due to variations in community desires, climatic conditions, or overall municipal policies).