Historical Shoreline Data for Cape Ann, Massachusetts

A high-resolution historical shoreline dataset for Cape Ann, Massachusetts, automated for use as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. The data were derived from shoreline maps produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service and its predecessor agencies, based on imagery interpretation and field surveys. The attribution follows the NOAA-developed C-COAST scheme, influenced by the International Hydrographic Organization's S-57 standard.

Use Cases

• Analyzing coastal erosion and accretion patterns based on historical shoreline positions.
• Creating baseline maps for coastal zone management and planning.
• Validating or training models for shoreline change prediction.
• Integrating historical coastal data into modern GIS systems based on the C-COAST attribution scheme.

Strengths

• Data is described as high-resolution and accurate for GIS use.
• Derived from authoritative NOAA National Ocean Service shoreline maps.
• Attribution follows a structured scheme (C-COAST) designed for translation to the S-57 standard.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Derived from NOAA shoreline maps based on office interpretation of imagery and/or field surveys.

Time Range

Historical, but specific temporal coverage is not stated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 20:50:23.248919; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Cape Ann, Massachusetts, USA.