Coastal Services Center

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GIS

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GIS was used to generate this map of population data from Monterrey County, California.

GIS – Applied

Back to GIS tool

GIS technology presents managers with the ability to capture stakeholder input for a specific region and integrate that information with existing natural science data for a more comprehensive analysis. GIS provides a powerful mechanism to highlight and communicate concerns regarding environmental threats or proposed management measures from the perspective of both the local community and the scientific or management community.

In order to be viewed by and analyzed within a GIS, the information must be geographically referenced, i.e., associated with a specific point location (latitude/longitude), line (road, river), or region (zip code, town, county). Often raw social science data must be manipulated to provide this geographic reference. For example, data gathered from a questionnaire can be linked to existing spatial data, such as census tracts or blocks, counties, or zip codes (see map).

 

 

What Other Data Can Be Used with GIS?

Satellite image of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The wetlands are shown in yellow.

GIS can be used to display and analyze a variety of spatially referenced data types.

Examples of data than can be used within a GIS to enhance social science information include:

• Aerial photography
• Satellite imagery
• Global Positioning System (GPS) data
• Bathymetric and topographic data
• Shoreline change data (LIDAR)
• Habitat data
• Fish and wildlife data
• Landscape features

The ability to review such a broad range of information about a specific location can lead to improved decision-making. In particular, the combination of natural and social science data may highlight conflicting uses and identify relationships between human use patterns and observed impacts.

Case Studies

Additional Resources

Remote Sensing for Coastal Management
Examples of how GIS is used with other software programs and remote sensing techniques. Developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center.