Historical Shoreline Data for Delaware Bay, New Jersey

A high-resolution historical shoreline dataset for Delaware Bay, New Jersey, created as a GIS data layer. The data were automated from shoreline maps produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service and its predecessors, based on imagery interpretation and field surveys. The attribution follows the NGS-developed C-COAST scheme, influenced by the S-57 standard for hydrographic data.

Use Cases

• Analyze coastal erosion or accretion rates based on historical shoreline positions.
• Model coastal vulnerability and flood risk based on shoreline change data.
• Calibrate or validate remote sensing shoreline detection algorithms based on high-resolution historical maps.
• Support coastal zone planning and regulatory decisions based on documented shoreline history.

Strengths

• Data are described as high-resolution and accurate for GIS use.
• Shoreline maps were produced by NOAA National Ocean Service, a authoritative source.
• Attribution scheme (C-COAST) was developed to conform various data sources.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific Delaware Bay, New Jersey focus.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Automated from shoreline maps produced by NOAA NOS, based on office interpretation of imagery and/or field surveys.

Time Range

Historical, but specific temporal coverage is not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 21:22:07.803769; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Delaware Bay, New Jersey, North America