Center for Coastal Resources Management

GIS Data & Maps: Interactive Maps

• Aquaculture Vulnerability Model - This study uses GIS to model risks to shellfish aquaculture. The model first considers basics physical and biological conditions necessary for aquaculture success and second, the impacts that current land use and proposed local zoning has on suitable growing areas.

• Blue Infrastructure (BI) - The Blue Infrastructure online mapping tool integrates important aquatic resources that have been compiled for the coastal zone of Virginia using GIS technology.

• Erosion Vunerability (EVA) - EVA was designed as an online interactive map interface to illustrate the output of a highly integrated spatial data model that uses multiple data sets generated by various developers across the Chesapeake Bay region.  The map outputs, which can be generated on the fly, will inform local planners where community infrastructure, cultural resources, and habitat are potentially at risk in the future.

• Marina Suitability Tool - This tool was designed using available GIS data, government specifications and scientific information to identify appropriate sites for future marinas. A protocol was developed to implement an evaluation approach which ranks existing conditions on the landscape based on three major categories: habitat, water quality, and design.

• Maritime Forest Project - The purpose of this project were to use remote sensing techniques to delineate existing coastal maritime forests, as well as compute, on a county-by-county basis, the amount of maritime forest cover present in each coastal locality, and the extent of maritime forests located within conservation lands. 

• Oil Spill Cleanup And Response (OSCAR) - OSCAR, the Oil Spill Clean-up and Response tool, was generated to assist individuals responding to oil spill accidents in the Chesapeake Bay.

• Shallow Water Use Conflict Tool - This project uses GIS to evaluate conditions suitable for a variety of activities that may occur within the shallow water zone of the estuary.

• Shoreline Manager's Assessment Kit (SMAK) - SMAK, the online Shoreline Managers Assessment Kit, was developed to assist shoreline managers evaluate the current state of the shoreline, assess the level of existing impacts, and make recommendations regarding proposed actions.

• Tidal Wetlands Assessment for Mid-Atlantic Tidal Wetlands - This includes reports, datasets and ArcIMS projects for Level I and II protocols within the Indian River, DE; Nanticoke River, MD, and York River, VA.

• Wetlands Data Viewer - The Wetlands Data Viewer tool allows users to obtain National Wetland Inventory (NWI) statistics for any hydrologic unit in Virginia.

• Wetlands Mitigation Targeting Tool - This tool uses GIS to target sites in the landscape suitable for wetland creation. It has application for wetland restoration or mitigation projects. The tool outputs selected sites based on five suitability parameters: presence of hydric soils, presence of hydrology, adjacency to existing wetlands, existing landuse and the opportunity for landscape conversion, and proximity to designated conservation areas.

• York River Wetlands Assessment - This study provides baseline data on the extent and condition of 2,188 tidal wetlands within the York River Watershed. These data provide valuable information in identifying wetland restoration opportunities, evaluating appropriate mitigation ratios, and determining cumulative impacts within a watershed.

The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) applies GIS and remote sensing techniques to studies addressing coastal, watershed, and landscape issues. Tools were developed using ArcIMS®, a software product by ESRI, allowing end users to query GIS coverages without the need for GIS software. A user can perform general map queries, access attribute data related to map features, and compose and print maps using the Internet.

CCRM provides these data with the understanding that it is not guaranteed to be correct or complete, and conclusions drawn from the data set are the sole responsibility of the user.  Every attempt has been made to ensure that these data and the documentation are reliable and accurate. Neither CCRM, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), or disclosed funding agencies assume liability for any damages caused by inaccuracies in the data or documentation, or as a result of failure of the data to perform in a particular manner. CCRM, VIMS, and any disclosed collaborative agency make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty. Proper citation and logos for each dataset must be clearly stated and presented in documents or map products.