This section gives an overview of why this product was created, and what information is included in it.
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South Carolina's Coast: A Remote Sensing Perspective is a product created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center for the coastal resource manager. This project demonstrates the utility of information acquired by satellite and airborne remote sensing systems.
Projects profiled within this CD-ROM include:
This CD-ROM allows users to easily view all of its contents either through Internet web browsers or mapping software. Ready-to-print portable document files (PDF) maps are provided as well as pre-designed geographic information system (GIS) project files for the experienced user.
NOAA is a federal agency that strives to describe and predict changes in the earth's environment and to guide the conservation and management of coastal marine resources. This is accomplished through a variety of mechanisms, including collaborations with federal, state, and regional coastal resource management agencies and programs. NOAA's Coastal Services Center assists the nation's coastal resource management programs by providing them with services and information and fostering the use of new or under-utilized technology. This CD-ROM continues this effort by providing access to remotely sensed data and other spatial data for the coast of South Carolina.
The Center's two remote sensing programs developed the data sets contained on this CD-ROM in partnership with state and local governments and academic institutions. The Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) provided the land cover and change analysis data. The Coastal Remote Sensing (CRS) program provided the high resolution LIDAR airborne laser beach mapping data. Following are descriptions of these Center programs.
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| NOAA DeHavilland Twin Otter Aircraft |
The scientists in the CRS program are studying data streams derived from satellites and aircraft to determine how this information can benefit coastal resource managers. The results have been very positive.
The LIDAR effort is one of the projects profiled on this CD-ROM. Lasers mounted on NOAA aircraft are being used to document topographic changes on beaches. By comparing multiple dates of data, shoreline change can be detected. Annual surveys of this type may help coastal resource managers understand long-term erosion trends, estimate the effects of beach nourishment and erosion control devices, and establish setback lines. After a hurricane or major coastal storm, LIDAR could provide an effective method to assess storm impacts and measure shoreline vulnerability.
To learn more about how LIDAR data are collected, click here.
C-CAP is designed to monitor change in terrestrial land cover and benthic habitat, including submerged aquatic vegetation. C-CAP uses satellite imagery (primarily Landsat Thematic Mapper [TM]), aerial photography, and field data to classify land cover, and analyze and monitor changes in coastal submerged vegetation, wetland habitats, and adjacent uplands.
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| Image of a Satellite |
C-CAP is developing a nationally standardized database of land cover and change analysis data. These data are interpreted, categorized, and integrated with other spatial data in a GIS for use by coastal resource managers. With this information, coastal resource managers can look for correlations in the changes in terrestrial regions with those in coastal aquatic habitats, and also with changes in the distribution, abundance, and health of living marine resources.
NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP): Guidance for Regional Implementation summarizes C-CAP protocols and procedures that are to be used by scientists throughout the U.S. to develop consistent and reliable coastal change information for input to the C-CAP nationwide database. It also provides useful guidelines for contributors working on related projects. It is considered to be a working document subject to periodic review and revision. To learn more about how C-CAP land cover and change analysis data are collected, click here.
This CD has been organized into several different sections. Follow the links below to learn more.
DATA DESCRIPTION: This section provides overviews of remote sensing and geographic information systems, full descriptions of the data collection, processing techniques and brief descriptions of the spatial data sets and ArcView® Project Files provided on volume 1 and 2 of this CD-ROM product.
GIS TUTORIALS: This section provides ArcView® GIS techniques to allow beginning users access to data included on the CD-ROM.
APPLICATIONS: This section describes how remote sensing data are used to help manage South Carolina's coast.
COASTAL COUNTY MAPS: This section includes maps and background information for the remote sensing data included on the CD-ROM.
DATA TOOLS: This section lists the tools available on this CD-ROM to access the data included on the CD-ROM.
DATA SETS AND METADATA: This section lists all of the spatial data sets available on the CD-ROM and provides links to Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)-compliant metadata.
OTHER LINKS: This section links to other web sites that contain information related to this CD-ROM product.
ABOUT THIS CD-ROM: This section provides general operating instructions for installing the CD-ROM, using the associated software, accessing the various data sets, and obtaining additional information regarding this project.
PARTNERS: This section lists contact information for the organizations that worked together on this project. This section also provides an Internet link to the organizations' homepages, if one exists.