1966 OS 27 10K: Northern Ireland Shoreline Change Analysis Since the 1800s

Ulster University and OpenDataNI provide historical shoreline change data for the entire Northern Ireland coastline, derived from Ordnance Survey maps and aerial imagery dating back to the early 1800s. The dataset includes rate-of-change statistics calculated at 25-meter intervals using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) in ArcGIS. It was last updated on March 18, 2026.

Use Cases

• Calculate rates of coastal erosion or accretion based on Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) and End Point Rate (EPR) statistics.
• Model long-term shoreline change trends using Linear Regression Rate (LRR) and Weighted Linear Regression Rate (WLR) data.
• Identify specific stretches of coastline experiencing significant retreat or advance using spatially displayed rate-of-change data.
• Support coastal management and planning decisions with a dynamic picture of shoreline position and geometry over decadal periods.

Strengths

• Analysis is based on all available Ordnance Survey maps and aerial imagery, providing a long-term historical perspective.
• Rate-of-change statistics are calculated at a high spatial resolution of 25-meter intervals.
• Includes multiple statistical measures of change (NSM, SCE, EPR, LRR, WLR) for robust analysis.
• Covers the entire Northern Ireland coastline, offering a complete regional picture.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

OpenDataNI, Ulster University

Collection Method

Historical shoreline analysis using Ordnance Survey maps, aerial imagery, and the ArcGIS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS).

Time Range

Early 1800s to the date of the youngest available shoreline data.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-18 11:23:03.422693; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northern Ireland coastline.