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Emily A Himmelstoss

Emily Himmelstoss is a geologist serving as the Associate Program Coordinator for Science for the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program. She supports the scientific direction and priorities of the Program within the Natural Hazards Mission Area. 

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

DSAS block image

Computer Software for Calculating Shoreline Change (or positional change of a boundary over time)

Learn more

Coastal Change Hazards Portal

Computer image of the island of Puerto Rico surrounded by colored lines representing shoreline change

An accessible mapping interface to visualize and access the portfolio of Coastal Change Hazards  assessments of extreme storm, coastal erosion, and sea-level change impact data.

Learn more

Career History

Emily has been with the U.S. Geological Survey for more than 20 years. She began as technical support staff and progressed to project and program-level leadership roles. She has contributed to various marine and coastal research projects, starting with processing shipboard geophysical data along the inner continental shelf to leading multiple coastal projects supported by both appropriated and reimbursable funds. Her work has focused on measuring how natural forces and human actions have influenced the evolution of coastal beaches. 

  • Fifteen years leading the development of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software, an open-access tool used to measure positional change. The tool has a global user base and more than 50k downloads. 
  • Twelve years contributing to national-scale projects assessing coastal change and developing the USGS Coastal Change Hazards (CCH) portal, facilitating access to coastal change hazard assessments. 
  • Served as a member of the Coastal Change Hazards Leadership Team comprised of research scientists, data experts, and science communicators to establish a collaborative framework for advancing coastal change hazards science, fostering collaborative project development, and aligning coastal research and products with programmatic requirements and stakeholder needs. 
  • Steering committee member of the State of Our Nation’s Coast project designed to make discovery and communication of CCH scientific data more effective, efficient, and meaningful for coastal hazards planning and preparedness. This project implemented iterative user engagement that resulted in the development of the Coastal Science Navigator. 
  • Designed and co-led a cross-center Technical Capabilities and Applications project designed to provide technical expertise, methodologies, and data visualization support to ensure the sustainability of coastal change hazards assessment products at regional to national scales. Additionally, this project actively supports initiatives that promote data sharing among research projects and coordinates a cross-center technical cooperative that serves as a valuable resource across the Program. 

Science and Products

link
infographic showing transects signaling coastal change, onshore and offshore baselines

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricanes
link

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
Learn More
link
Inlet into Pleasant bay, looking north to Nauset Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Chatham, MA

State of Our Nation's Coast

Discover USGS products, tools, and data with the Coastal Science Navigator! The Coastal Science Navigator serves as a gateway to USGS Coastal Change Hazards resources and assists users in finding products and tools that will meet their specific needs.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

State of Our Nation's Coast

Discover USGS products, tools, and data with the Coastal Science Navigator! The Coastal Science Navigator serves as a gateway to USGS Coastal Change Hazards resources and assists users in finding products and tools that will meet their specific needs.
Learn More
link
Sunset in Cape Cod Bay

Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
Learn More
link
Cape Cod coast

Long-Term Coastal Change

Goals of this task include developing and improving coastal-change assessments and supporting long-term planning and decision making to ensure sustainable coastal economies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Long-Term Coastal Change

Goals of this task include developing and improving coastal-change assessments and supporting long-term planning and decision making to ensure sustainable coastal economies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
Learn More
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

Empowering decision-makers: A dynamic web interface for running Bayesian networks

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are at the forefront of research that is critical for decision-making, particularly through the development of models (Bayesian networks, or BNs) that forecast coastal change. The utility of these tools outside the scientific community has been limited because they rely on expensive, technical software and a moderate understanding of statistical analyses. W
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

Empowering decision-makers: A dynamic web interface for running Bayesian networks

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are at the forefront of research that is critical for decision-making, particularly through the development of models (Bayesian networks, or BNs) that forecast coastal change. The utility of these tools outside the scientific community has been limited because they rely on expensive, technical software and a moderate understanding of statistical analyses. W
Learn More

National Shoreline Change—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data from the 1800s to 2010s for the coast of California

In coastal areas of the United States, where water and land interface in complex and dynamic ways, it is common to find concentrated residential and commercial development. These coastal areas often contain various landholdings managed by Federal, State, and local municipal authorities for public recreation and conservation. These areas are frequently subjected to a range of natural hazards, which
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Puerto Rico shoreline change: A GIS compilation of shorelines, baselines, intersects, and change rates calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis system version 5.1 (ver. 2.0, March 2023)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the USGS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), version 5.1 software to calculate rates of change.
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Shoreline Classification for Puerto Rico from 1970 and 2010

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photos or topographic surveys, as well as contemporary sources like lidar point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs). These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to compute rates of change. It is useful to
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines for Puerto Rico from 2015 to 2018

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System software to compute their rates of change. Keeping a record of h
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Historical Shorelines for Puerto Rico from 1901 to 1987

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photograph or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System software (v5.1) to compute their rates of change. Keeping a recor
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS National Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines (1800s - 2010s) and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Georgia and Florida Coasts.

During Hurricane Irma in September 2017, Florida and Georgia experienced significant impacts to beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs. Extensive erosion and coral losses result in increased immediate and long-term hazards to shorelines that include densely populated regions. These hazards put critical infrastructure at risk to future flooding and erosion and may cause economic losses. T
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Preliminary estimates of forecasted shoreline positions and associated uncertainties for Florida and Georgia

During Hurricane Irma, Florida and Georgia experienced substantial impacts to beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs. Extensive erosion and coral losses from hurricanes result in increased vulnerability of coastal regions, including densely populated areas. Erosion may put critical infrastructure at risk of future flooding and may cause economic loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Co
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project, 2021 Update: A GIS Compilation of Shoreline Change Rates Calculated Using Digital Shoreline Analysis System Version 5.1, With Supplementary Intersects and Baselines for Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast and support local land-use decisions. Trends of shoreline position over long and short-term timescales provide information to landowners, managers, and potential buyers about possible future impacts to coastal resources and infrastructure. In 2001, a 1994
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines (1844-2018)

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management compiled Massachusetts vector shorelines into an updated dataset for the Office's Shoreline Change Project. The Shoreline Change Project started in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the Massachusetts coast by compiling a database of historical shoreline positions. Trends of shoreline position
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project, 2018 Update: A GIS Compilation of Shoreline Change Rates Calculated Using Digital Shoreline Analysis System Version 5.0, With Supplementary Intersects and Baselines for Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. The shoreline position and change rate are used to inform management decisions regarding the erosion of coastal resources. In 2001, a shoreline from 1994 was added to calculate both long- and short-term shoreline change rates along ocean-facing sections of
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Southeast Atlantic Coast

Sandy ocean beaches in the United States are popular tourist and recreational destinations and constitute some of the most valuable real estate in the country. The boundary between land and water along the coastline is often the location of concentrated residential and commercial development and is frequently exposed to a range of natural hazards, which include flooding, storm effects, and coas
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Gulf of Mexico Coast

Sandy ocean beaches in the United States are popular tourist and recreational destinations and constitute some of the most valuable real estate in the country. The boundary between land and water along the coastline is often the location of concentrated residential and commercial development and is frequently exposed to a range of natural hazards, which include flooding, storm effects, and coas
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Filter Total Items: 17

National shoreline change—Summary statistics for vector shorelines from the early 1900s to the 2010s for Puerto Rico

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a database of historical shoreline positions for the United States coasts derived from historical sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as modern orthophotography, light detection and ranging (lidar) point clouds, and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled within a geographic informati
Authors
Rachel E. Henderson, Julia L. Heslin, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Maritza Barreto-Orta
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

User engagement to improve coastal data access and delivery

Executive SummaryA priority of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program focus on coastal change hazards is to provide accessible and actionable science that meets user needs. To understand these needs, 10 virtual Coastal Data Delivery Listening Sessions were completed with 5 coastal data user types that coastal change hazards data are intended to serve: re
Authors
Amanda D. Stoltz, Amanda E. Cravens, Erika Lentz, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Accuracy of shoreline forecasting using sparse data

Sandy beaches are important resources providing recreation, tourism, habitat, and coastal protection. They evolve over various time scales due to local winds, waves, storms, and changes in sea level. A common method used to monitor change in sandy beaches is to measure the movement of the shoreline over time. Typically, the rate of change is estimated by fitting a linear regression through a time
Authors
Amy S. Farris, Joseph W Long, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Processes controlling coastal erosion along Cape Cod Bay, MA

Cape Cod Bay, MA, is a semi-enclosed embayment in the northeastern United States, open on the north to the Gulf of Maine. The coastline experiences impacts typically from strong Nor’easter storms that occur in the late fall or winter months, with some sections of this coastline being affected more severely than others. We investigate the processes that cause spatial variability in storm impacts by
Authors
John C. Warner, Laura L. Brothers, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Christopher R. Sherwood, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, David S. Foster, Amy S. Farris
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.1 user guide

The Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5 software is an add-in to Esri ArcGIS Desktop version 10.4–10.7 that enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from a time series of vector shoreline positions. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System provides an automated method for establishing measurement locations, performs rate calculations, provides the statistical data necessary to as
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Rachel E. Henderson, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Amy S. Farris
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.0 user guide

OverviewThe Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) is a freely available software application that works within the Esri Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) software. DSAS computes rate-of-change statistics for a time series of shoreline vector data. DSAS version 5.0 (v5.0) was released in December 2018 and has been tested for compatibility with ArcGIS versions 10.4 and 10.5. It is supported
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Rachel E. Henderson, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Amy S. Farris
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change—Summary statistics for updated vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic coasts

Long-term rates of shoreline change for the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic regions of the United States have been updated as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Assessment of Shoreline Change project. Additional shoreline position data were used to compute rates where the previous rate-of-change assessment only included four shoreline positions at a given location. The long-term s
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Meredith G. Kratzmann, E. Robert Thieler
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

The National assessment of shoreline shange—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the Pacific Northwest coast

Sandy ocean beaches are a popular recreational destination and are often surrounded by communities that consist of valuable real estate. Development along sandy coastal areas is increasing despite the fact that coastal infrastructure may be repeatedly subjected to flooding and erosion. As a result, the demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes is increasing. Inve
Authors
Meredith G. Kratzmann, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Peter Ruggiero, E. Robert Thieler, David Reid
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geomorphic and human influence on large-scale coastal change

An increasing need exists for regional-scale measurements of shoreline change to aid in management and planning decisions over a broad portion of the coast and to inform assessments of coastal vulnerabilities and hazards. A recent dataset of regional shoreline change, covering a large portion of the U.S. East coast (New England and Mid-Atlantic), provides rates of shoreline change over historical
Authors
Cheryl J. Hapke, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts shoreline change project: a GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the 2013 update

Identifying the rates and trends associated with the position of the shoreline through time presents vital information on potential impacts these changes may have on coastal populations and infrastructure, and supports informed coastal management decisions. This report publishes the historical shoreline data used to assess the scale and timing of erosion and accretion along the Massachusetts coast
Authors
Theresa L. Smith, Emily A. Himmelstoss, E. Robert Thieler
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Quaternary geophysical framework of the northeastern North Carolina coastal system

The northeastern North Carolina coastal system, from False Cape, Virginia, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, has been studied by a cooperative research program that mapped the Quaternary geologic framework of the estuaries, barrier islands, and inner continental shelf. This information provides a basis to understand the linkage between geologic framework, physical processes, and coastal evolution a
Authors
E. R. Thieler, D. S. Foster, D. J. Mallinson, E. A. Himmelstoss, J. E. McNinch, J. H. List, E. S. Hammar-Klose
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

The national assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts

Sandy ocean beaches are a popular recreational destination, often surrounded by communities containing valuable real estate. Development is on the rise despite the fact that coastal infrastructure is subjected to flooding and erosion. As a result, there is an increased demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Assessment of
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Cheryl Hapke, E. Robert Thieler, Jeffrey List
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 6)

The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 6) is a stand-alone desktop application that complements a Geographic Information System (GIS). The DSAS software requires users to input a reference baseline and compilation of shoreline positions to generate measurement transects and shoreline intersections used to calculate rate-of-change statistics. DSAS provides an automated method for establish
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System

Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.0

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Preparing the Nation for Coastal Hazards

Preparing the Nation for Coastal Hazards

The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program is the federal science program dedicated to understanding how coastal and ocean processes...

Read Article

Science and Products

link
infographic showing transects signaling coastal change, onshore and offshore baselines

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricanes
link

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS)

Software for calculating positional boundary change over time The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6 is a standalone application that calculates shoreline or boundary change over time. The GIS of a user’s choice is used to prepare the data for DSAS. Like previous versions, DSAS v.6 enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple historical shoreline positions...
Learn More
link
Inlet into Pleasant bay, looking north to Nauset Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Chatham, MA

State of Our Nation's Coast

Discover USGS products, tools, and data with the Coastal Science Navigator! The Coastal Science Navigator serves as a gateway to USGS Coastal Change Hazards resources and assists users in finding products and tools that will meet their specific needs.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

State of Our Nation's Coast

Discover USGS products, tools, and data with the Coastal Science Navigator! The Coastal Science Navigator serves as a gateway to USGS Coastal Change Hazards resources and assists users in finding products and tools that will meet their specific needs.
Learn More
link
Sunset in Cape Cod Bay

Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
Learn More
link
Cape Cod coast

Long-Term Coastal Change

Goals of this task include developing and improving coastal-change assessments and supporting long-term planning and decision making to ensure sustainable coastal economies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Long-Term Coastal Change

Goals of this task include developing and improving coastal-change assessments and supporting long-term planning and decision making to ensure sustainable coastal economies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
Learn More
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

Empowering decision-makers: A dynamic web interface for running Bayesian networks

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are at the forefront of research that is critical for decision-making, particularly through the development of models (Bayesian networks, or BNs) that forecast coastal change. The utility of these tools outside the scientific community has been limited because they rely on expensive, technical software and a moderate understanding of statistical analyses. W
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

Empowering decision-makers: A dynamic web interface for running Bayesian networks

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are at the forefront of research that is critical for decision-making, particularly through the development of models (Bayesian networks, or BNs) that forecast coastal change. The utility of these tools outside the scientific community has been limited because they rely on expensive, technical software and a moderate understanding of statistical analyses. W
Learn More

National Shoreline Change—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data from the 1800s to 2010s for the coast of California

In coastal areas of the United States, where water and land interface in complex and dynamic ways, it is common to find concentrated residential and commercial development. These coastal areas often contain various landholdings managed by Federal, State, and local municipal authorities for public recreation and conservation. These areas are frequently subjected to a range of natural hazards, which
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Puerto Rico shoreline change: A GIS compilation of shorelines, baselines, intersects, and change rates calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis system version 5.1 (ver. 2.0, March 2023)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the USGS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), version 5.1 software to calculate rates of change.
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Shoreline Classification for Puerto Rico from 1970 and 2010

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photos or topographic surveys, as well as contemporary sources like lidar point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs). These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to compute rates of change. It is useful to
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines for Puerto Rico from 2015 to 2018

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System software to compute their rates of change. Keeping a record of h
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Historical Shorelines for Puerto Rico from 1901 to 1987

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photograph or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System software (v5.1) to compute their rates of change. Keeping a recor
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS National Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines (1800s - 2010s) and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Georgia and Florida Coasts.

During Hurricane Irma in September 2017, Florida and Georgia experienced significant impacts to beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs. Extensive erosion and coral losses result in increased immediate and long-term hazards to shorelines that include densely populated regions. These hazards put critical infrastructure at risk to future flooding and erosion and may cause economic losses. T
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Preliminary estimates of forecasted shoreline positions and associated uncertainties for Florida and Georgia

During Hurricane Irma, Florida and Georgia experienced substantial impacts to beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs. Extensive erosion and coral losses from hurricanes result in increased vulnerability of coastal regions, including densely populated areas. Erosion may put critical infrastructure at risk of future flooding and may cause economic loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Co
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project, 2021 Update: A GIS Compilation of Shoreline Change Rates Calculated Using Digital Shoreline Analysis System Version 5.1, With Supplementary Intersects and Baselines for Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast and support local land-use decisions. Trends of shoreline position over long and short-term timescales provide information to landowners, managers, and potential buyers about possible future impacts to coastal resources and infrastructure. In 2001, a 1994
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines (1844-2018)

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management compiled Massachusetts vector shorelines into an updated dataset for the Office's Shoreline Change Project. The Shoreline Change Project started in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the Massachusetts coast by compiling a database of historical shoreline positions. Trends of shoreline position
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project, 2018 Update: A GIS Compilation of Shoreline Change Rates Calculated Using Digital Shoreline Analysis System Version 5.0, With Supplementary Intersects and Baselines for Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. The shoreline position and change rate are used to inform management decisions regarding the erosion of coastal resources. In 2001, a shoreline from 1994 was added to calculate both long- and short-term shoreline change rates along ocean-facing sections of
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Southeast Atlantic Coast

Sandy ocean beaches in the United States are popular tourist and recreational destinations and constitute some of the most valuable real estate in the country. The boundary between land and water along the coastline is often the location of concentrated residential and commercial development and is frequently exposed to a range of natural hazards, which include flooding, storm effects, and coas
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS compilation of Updated Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Gulf of Mexico Coast

Sandy ocean beaches in the United States are popular tourist and recreational destinations and constitute some of the most valuable real estate in the country. The boundary between land and water along the coastline is often the location of concentrated residential and commercial development and is frequently exposed to a range of natural hazards, which include flooding, storm effects, and coas
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Filter Total Items: 17

National shoreline change—Summary statistics for vector shorelines from the early 1900s to the 2010s for Puerto Rico

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a database of historical shoreline positions for the United States coasts derived from historical sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as modern orthophotography, light detection and ranging (lidar) point clouds, and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled within a geographic informati
Authors
Rachel E. Henderson, Julia L. Heslin, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Maritza Barreto-Orta
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

User engagement to improve coastal data access and delivery

Executive SummaryA priority of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program focus on coastal change hazards is to provide accessible and actionable science that meets user needs. To understand these needs, 10 virtual Coastal Data Delivery Listening Sessions were completed with 5 coastal data user types that coastal change hazards data are intended to serve: re
Authors
Amanda D. Stoltz, Amanda E. Cravens, Erika Lentz, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Accuracy of shoreline forecasting using sparse data

Sandy beaches are important resources providing recreation, tourism, habitat, and coastal protection. They evolve over various time scales due to local winds, waves, storms, and changes in sea level. A common method used to monitor change in sandy beaches is to measure the movement of the shoreline over time. Typically, the rate of change is estimated by fitting a linear regression through a time
Authors
Amy S. Farris, Joseph W Long, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Processes controlling coastal erosion along Cape Cod Bay, MA

Cape Cod Bay, MA, is a semi-enclosed embayment in the northeastern United States, open on the north to the Gulf of Maine. The coastline experiences impacts typically from strong Nor’easter storms that occur in the late fall or winter months, with some sections of this coastline being affected more severely than others. We investigate the processes that cause spatial variability in storm impacts by
Authors
John C. Warner, Laura L. Brothers, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Christopher R. Sherwood, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, David S. Foster, Amy S. Farris
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.1 user guide

The Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5 software is an add-in to Esri ArcGIS Desktop version 10.4–10.7 that enables a user to calculate rate-of-change statistics from a time series of vector shoreline positions. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System provides an automated method for establishing measurement locations, performs rate calculations, provides the statistical data necessary to as
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Rachel E. Henderson, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Amy S. Farris
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.0 user guide

OverviewThe Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) is a freely available software application that works within the Esri Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) software. DSAS computes rate-of-change statistics for a time series of shoreline vector data. DSAS version 5.0 (v5.0) was released in December 2018 and has been tested for compatibility with ArcGIS versions 10.4 and 10.5. It is supported
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Rachel E. Henderson, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Amy S. Farris
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change—Summary statistics for updated vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic coasts

Long-term rates of shoreline change for the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic regions of the United States have been updated as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Assessment of Shoreline Change project. Additional shoreline position data were used to compute rates where the previous rate-of-change assessment only included four shoreline positions at a given location. The long-term s
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Meredith G. Kratzmann, E. Robert Thieler
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

The National assessment of shoreline shange—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the Pacific Northwest coast

Sandy ocean beaches are a popular recreational destination and are often surrounded by communities that consist of valuable real estate. Development along sandy coastal areas is increasing despite the fact that coastal infrastructure may be repeatedly subjected to flooding and erosion. As a result, the demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes is increasing. Inve
Authors
Meredith G. Kratzmann, Emily A. Himmelstoss, Peter Ruggiero, E. Robert Thieler, David Reid
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geomorphic and human influence on large-scale coastal change

An increasing need exists for regional-scale measurements of shoreline change to aid in management and planning decisions over a broad portion of the coast and to inform assessments of coastal vulnerabilities and hazards. A recent dataset of regional shoreline change, covering a large portion of the U.S. East coast (New England and Mid-Atlantic), provides rates of shoreline change over historical
Authors
Cheryl J. Hapke, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Emily A. Himmelstoss
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Massachusetts shoreline change project: a GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the 2013 update

Identifying the rates and trends associated with the position of the shoreline through time presents vital information on potential impacts these changes may have on coastal populations and infrastructure, and supports informed coastal management decisions. This report publishes the historical shoreline data used to assess the scale and timing of erosion and accretion along the Massachusetts coast
Authors
Theresa L. Smith, Emily A. Himmelstoss, E. Robert Thieler
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Quaternary geophysical framework of the northeastern North Carolina coastal system

The northeastern North Carolina coastal system, from False Cape, Virginia, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, has been studied by a cooperative research program that mapped the Quaternary geologic framework of the estuaries, barrier islands, and inner continental shelf. This information provides a basis to understand the linkage between geologic framework, physical processes, and coastal evolution a
Authors
E. R. Thieler, D. S. Foster, D. J. Mallinson, E. A. Himmelstoss, J. E. McNinch, J. H. List, E. S. Hammar-Klose
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

The national assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts

Sandy ocean beaches are a popular recreational destination, often surrounded by communities containing valuable real estate. Development is on the rise despite the fact that coastal infrastructure is subjected to flooding and erosion. As a result, there is an increased demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Assessment of
Authors
Emily A. Himmelstoss, Meredith G. Kratzmann, Cheryl Hapke, E. Robert Thieler, Jeffrey List
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 6)

The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 6) is a stand-alone desktop application that complements a Geographic Information System (GIS). The DSAS software requires users to input a reference baseline and compilation of shoreline positions to generate measurement transects and shoreline intersections used to calculate rate-of-change statistics. DSAS provides an automated method for establish
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Shoreline Analysis System

Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.0

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Preparing the Nation for Coastal Hazards

Preparing the Nation for Coastal Hazards

The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program is the federal science program dedicated to understanding how coastal and ocean processes...

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