Your Favorite Software for Calculating Shoreline Change Just Got Better
Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 6.1 boasts improved functionality, reinstated features, and more
Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6.1 is now available, offering new and reinstated features such as more data export options, enhanced editing tools and customizable symbology, and the ability to forecast shoreline positions.
DSAS calculates how shoreline positions—or any positional boundary—change over time.
It’s used to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions, generate measurement transects along a baseline, and estimate uncertainties to show the reliability of results.
Although best known for shoreline‑change applications, DSAS also supports analysis of other evolving boundaries, including glacier margins, riverbanks, and land‑cover transitions.
In previous versions, DSAS was an add-in to ArcMap within Esri ArcGIS Desktop. However, when Esri ArcGIS Desktop began its decent into retirement in 2024, the DSAS development team released version 6 in response—a standalone, desktop application that complements any geographic information system, including popular choices such as QGIS, Global Mapper, and ArcGIS Pro. It was developed rapidly to meet essential user needs, with basic but reduced functionality from version 5.
As promised, DSAS version 6.1 reinstates several features and improves overall functionality.
In DSAS version 6.1, all layers are stored in a GeoPackage and can be exported as shapefiles (.shp), GeoJSON (.gpkg), and/or comma-separated values (.csv). The user can also customize data layer symbology and perform basic editing in the new navigation and editing toolbar.
Reinstated features include additional date format options, use of midshore baselines, and the ability to forecast up to 20 years into the future.
DSAS makes it easier to measure, understand, and anticipate shoreline changes, giving decision makers the information they need to plan for the future.
Our shorelines are constantly changing due to waves, storms, sea level change, and human activities. Understanding these changes is essential for protecting communities and managing resources.
As DSAS continues to evolve, version 6.1 reflects the development team’s commitment to meeting user needs. The reinstated features, improved flexibility, and expanded export options ensure users can continue producing reliable shoreline change analyses.
Whether applied to long-term coastal research or management planning, DSAS remains a trusted tool for transforming historical shoreline data into meaningful insights.
Visit the DSAS web page for additional resources and information.