Northern Ireland Historical Shoreline Change Analysis, 1919-1924

Historical shoreline analysis for the entire Northern Ireland coastline, derived from Ordnance Survey maps and aerial imagery. Ulster University processed the data using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to calculate rate-of-change statistics at 25-meter intervals. The dataset provides a dynamic picture of coastal change from the early 1800s, with the last update recorded on 2026-03-18.

Use Cases

• Calculate long-term erosion or accretion rates based on Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) and End Point Rate (EPR) statistics.
• Model shoreline change uncertainty using Weighted Linear Regression Rate (WLR) which accounts for measurement error.
• Identify specific coastal stretches experiencing significant retreat or advance using spatially displayed rate-of-change data.
• Assess total historical shoreline variability using the Shoreline Change Envelope (SCE) metric.

Strengths

• Analysis covers the entire Northern Ireland coastline.
• Rate-of-change statistics were calculated at a high spatial resolution of 25-meter intervals.
• Derived from multiple historical data sources including Ordnance Survey maps and aerial imagery.
• Processed using the established ArcGIS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) methodology.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect temporal and source bias inherent to the historical map and imagery records used.

Provenance

Source

OpenDataNI, Ulster University

Collection Method

Analysis of historical Ordnance Survey maps and aerial imagery using the ArcGIS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS).

Time Range

Early 1800s onwards, with specific map edition from 1919-1924.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-18 11:24:15.212101; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northern Ireland coastline.