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Static Maps: Digital Shoreline Coverage (SHL) Description and Disclaimer

In the late 1980s, the Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program (CCI) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) began developing baseline GIS coverages in support of a statewide GIS database devoted to natural resource mapping in the Coastal Plain of Virginia. The shoreline, provides the basic boundary layer for most analysis in coastal Virginia. By 1989, however, no complete GIS coverage of Virginia's shoreline was available. The next two years were, in part, devoted to developing this baseline GIS coverage.

The USGS 7.5 minute, 1:24,000 scale, topographic maps for Virginia were acquired from USGS on stable-base mylar. The solid "blue line" shoreline, representing the high water line (HWL) was digitized on a Numonics 2200 digitizing tablet using ESRI's ArcInfo® software. The original topographic maps were published at various dates. Early maps date back to the 1960s. Some more recent publications have been photo-revised. Other maps published in the 1980s were partially photo-revised, and the shoreline delineated represents an earlier survey. USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles report an accuracy limitation of +/- 10 meters. This limitation would apply to the position of the shoreline digitized.

As part of quality control within CCI, the individual quadrangle coverages were edge-matched to create one seamless coverage known as shlall. This coverage has been converted to a shapefile and is available as a zipped ArcInfo shapefile here. The metadata file is included with the zipped package.
 
Shlall is most appropriate for national or regional scale projects.  Higher resolution shoreline data are available for large scale, local level mapping needs.  Shlall is a product of the Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program. The metadata file which accompanies this shapefile defines attribute accuracy, data development, and any use restriction which pertain to the data. The data can be downloaded at this site. In doing so, the users agree to all conditions outlined in the disclaimer.

Disclaimer for Digital Shoreline Coverage

The Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program (CCI) 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 CCI, nor the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) assumes 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. CCI and VIMS make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty.

Individuals who download these data agree to the following, and understand the limitations defined:

  • Integration of these data into other products requires proper citation. Proper citation for this file is:
    "Center for Coastal Resources Management, 1:24,000 Digital Shoreline Data (SHL), 1991. Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062."

  • Use of these data in map publications, either digital or hardcopy, requires proper citation, and inclusion of the CCI logo.

 

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CCI logo

Postscript logos zipped.

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Postscript logos gzipped.

  • CCI is not responsible for misuse of these data.

  • CCI does not oversee or assume responsibility for alterations to this product by users.

  • CCI may not address specific questions from users who received the data through another party.

  • Distribution of these data is not restricted. CCI, however, recommends metadata file(s) always remain with the data.

  • CCI encourages noticeable errors be reported to CCI contact person identified in the metadata file.

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Download the Zipped Digital Shoreline Coverage File