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Mapping Tools for Coastal Management, Virginia
ccrm.vims.edu

Period:
Status: In Progress
 Institutes 

Institutes (7)  Top 
  • Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences; Center for Coastal Resources Management, more, partner
  • Government of Virginia; Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), more, partner
  • Government of Virginia; Department of Health, more, partner
  • Virginia Marine Resources Commission, more, partner
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more, partner
  • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more, partner
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), more, partner

Abstract
Atlas Purpose

  • Report status in trends in coastal resources;
  • Make data available to the management community;
  • Provide resources to enhance coastal management;
  • Build awareness of the general public.

Distinguishing Features

  • Several different web GISs rather than one atlas;
  • Different web sites are tailored to specific needs.

Target Audience

  • General Public;
  • Researchers/Scientists;
  • NGOs;
  • Government/Public Bodies;
  • Consultancies;
  • Coastal/Environmental Managers;
  • Decision Makers;

Atlas Design and Usability

  • Focus:

    • Map content;

  • Design:

    • Multiple point(s) of access to map/data;
    • Guided navigation

  • Map Page:

    • View unlimited layers
    • View data independently;.
    • Separate legend & layer lists

  • Documentation:

    • Metadata:

      • Flat files
      • Multiple format(s)

    • Help page(s);
    • Tutorial;

  • Standards:

    • Metadata standards: FGDC;


Technology Used

  • Mapping Software:

    • Proprietary: ESRI ArcIMS

  • Data Storage:

    • Locally: Sybase 12.5;

  • Database Management System:

    • No

  • Other

    • Apache Web Server


Functionality/Tools Available

  • Level:

    • Moderate

  • Search Capability:
  • Other:

    • Coastal Management Tools:

      • Shoreline Manager’s Assessment Kit (SMAK);
      • Oil Spill Cleanup And Response (OSCAR);
      • Blue Infrastructure (BI);
      • Wetlands Mitigation Targeting Tool;
      • Wetlands Data Viewer;
      • Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Inventory.


  • Mapping Tools:

    • Zoom, recentre and full extent;
    • Identify features;
    • Print/Export maps;
    • Measure line and areas;
    • Download geospatial data;


Data/Cartographic Information Included

  • Geographic Area: Virginia/Maryland
  • Number of Datasets: varies by site
  • Topics:

    • Physical Environment;
    • Coastal Habitats;
    • Imagery;
    • Management;
    • Human Impact;
    • Conservation;
    • Environmental Monitoring;
    • Infrastructure;
    • Industry;
    • Culture & Heritage;
    • Natural Resources;
    • Fisheries, Aquaculture & Agriculture;
    • Tourism & Recreation


Data Issues

  • IPR/Cost:

    • Cost-prohibitive data (base/other);
    • Data use restrictions;

  • Accessibility:

    • Limited GIS-ready data;
    • Data duplication;
    • Distributed network not yet feasible
    • Data retrieval speed

  • Quality:

    • Variable/inconsistent data quality;
    • Inappropriate data scales;
    • Incomparable regional datasets;
    • Poor/non-existent metadata;

  • Management:

    • Data management plan development;
    • Balance of development and updates;
    • Regularity of data updates;
    • Manual upload of data to atlas;

  • Other

    • Poor data overlays


Other Challenges

  • Designing simple, intuitive and informative web interface;
  • Content balance of science and information;
  • Product promotion;
  • Other

    • Limited funding/support for necessary data acquisition development (e.g., shoreline change/erosion, wetlands updates).


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