Abstract

DSAS 4.0: A MATLAB-Enabled ArcGIS Extension for Computing Shoreline Change
Track: Application Development
Author(s): Jessica Zichichi, Emily Himmelstoss, Ayhan Ergul, Robert Thieler

The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) is an ArcGIS desktop extension that computes rate-of-change statistics from historic shoreline vector data. In addition to providing a means of establishing measurement locations, the extension performs rate calculations and the statistical data necessary to assess their robustness. DSAS is a core element of the U.S. Geological Survey national assessment program addressing coastal hazards. Initial DSAS versions calculated shoreline rate-of-change using a variety of methods (e.g., simple linear regression, weighted least squares regression). However, its application to temporally and spatially sparse data from a wide variety of coastal environments necessitates the use of more complex statistics. DSAS 4.0 was re-engineered to access end-user developed MATLAB® executables, which can provide additional rate-of-change statistics and automatically generate FGDC-compliant metadata. This paper will discuss how DSAS was implemented as a dynamic, flexible program that incorporates MATLAB® routines to expand its functionality for hazard assessment applications.

Jessica Zichichi
Innovate!, Inc
5835 Valley View Dr
Alexandria , Virginia 22310
United States
Phone: 774.206.5549
E-mail: jzichichi@innovateteam.com

Emily Himmelstoss
USGS
384 Woods Hole Rd
Woods Hole , Massachusetts 02543
United States
Phone: 508.457.2262
E-mail: ehimmelstoss@usgs.gov

Ayhan Ergul
Innovate!, Inc
5835 Valley View Dr
Alexandria , Virginia 22310
United States
Phone: 703.879.4800
E-mail: aergul@innovateteam.com

Robert Thieler
USGS
384 Woods Hole Rd
Woods Hole , Massachusetts 02543
United States
Phone: 508.457.2350
E-mail: rthieler@usgs.gov