Coastal Mapping Using a Geographic Information System

Megan Keevican, Dr. Mitchell W. Colgan, and Mathew Horton, College of Charleston

Due to sea level transgression, as well as various man-made structures along the shoreline, South Carolina's barrier islands are experiencing high levels of erosion. Data has been collected from 1988 to 1995 based on distance and elevation from a fixed point (GCP) by the College of Charleston's Geology Department and the South Carolina Coastal Council. It has become possible to develop a systematic approach using surveyor data and Esri's ArcInfo to illustrate coastal change. Varying years have been plotted using dynamic segmentation and TIN. Through the use of graphical overlay, it has become possible to illustrate the overall trend of erosion incident along the South Carolina shoreline. "Stacking profiles" has created cross-sectional profiles along the transects for varying years. The ArcInfo database offers a programming language which has allowed for the creation of a user friendly program (GUI). This will enable scientists to better query coastal change along the South Carolina coast.




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