VAMLIS Mission The Virginia Association for Mapping and Land Information Systems is a professional association in Virginia designed to provide educational and networking opportunities for professionals who have an interest in the mapping sciences in Virginia.
Shoreline erosion is a serious environmental concern that impacts public safety, property values, and coastal ecosystems. This talk examines a thorough undergraduate research project that mapped coastal erosion in Virginia's state parks. Our team collected imagery, conducted site visits, and ran generative transect analysis using GIS software to create site-specific data for DCR's erosion management plans. Our goals were to calculate the rate of shoreline retreat within VA State Parks and identify areas of priority concern for funding allocation. We will discuss our techniques, including remote imagery digitization and field surveys that enabled us to make comprehensive erosion maps and pinpoint the most vulnerable locations. The results show notable patterns in erosion rates impacted by human development, sea level rise, and shoreline geology. Additionally, the project highlights the critical need to integrate interdisciplinary scientific fields into GIS work while showcasing undergraduate research in the Institute for Integrative Conservation at William and Mary.
