Thursday, July 26, 2012

New E-Learning Teaches Managers GIS Methods for Defining Shorelines and Assessing Shoreline Change

Since the early 1800s, geographers have wrestled with various methods of mapping the U.S. shoreline. As technology has changed, new approaches have emerged. Today, extracting a shoreline from Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data allows users to derive a true datum-based shoreline, but determining the appropriate method for doing so can be a frustrating process. To help users alleviate potential frustration, NOAA's Coastal Services Center and the National Geodetic Survey have worked together to develop online training modules that guide users in using the Vertical Datum Transformation tool to tidally reference LIDAR data and then extract a LIDAR-based shoreline using ArcGIS, a mapping and spatial analysis tool. For more information, contact Maryellen Sault.