Historical Shoreline Data for Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

A high-resolution historical shoreline dataset for Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, automated for use as a GIS data layer. The data are derived from shoreline maps produced by 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 IHO S-57 standard for hydrographic data translation.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical shoreline change and erosion based on the high-resolution historical shoreline data.
• Create coastal base maps for GIS applications based on the automated, attributed shoreline data layer.
• Translate shoreline features into hydrographic data standards (e.g., S-57) based on the C-COAST attribution scheme.
• Model coastal zone management scenarios based on the accurate geographic representation of Narragansett Bay.

Strengths

• Data is described as 'high-resolution' and 'accurate' for historical shoreline representation.
• Shoreline attribution follows a structured scheme (C-COAST) designed for translation into the IHO S-57 standard.
• Data originates from the authoritative NOAA National Ocean Service and its predecessor agencies.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset scale are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect the temporal and methodological bias inherent in the original historical maps and surveys.

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 survey.

Time Range

Historical (specific range not provided).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 21:47:52.058682; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA.