CoastGIS'99: geomatics and coastal environment
of the coastline measures 564 km, 297 km of which belong to the
mainland and 267 km are island coastlines. Intensive dyking over the
last nine centuries resulted in the reclamation of an area of about
3,514 square kilometres. The study area along the westcoast was
restricted to the area between the State clykes and the so called second
dyke-line (fig. 1 ). This second dyke-line is situated inland from the first
(State) dyke-line. In the case of a dyke-breach only the area between
the first and second dyke-line may be flooded. This area amounts to
1,4 41 km
2 , in which 126,000 people live.
GIS for coastal defence management in Schleswig-Holstein
Today GIS are utilised in almost every field, where geographical data
and spatial information are of importance. The application of GIS for
coastal zone issues has been described in great detail by Bartlett ( 1994).
Jones ( 1995) underlines the great potential of GIS, especially its dataintegration functionalities, for integrated coastal zone management.
In Germany, Schauser (1993) used GIS for a study on spatial planning
in the coastal zone of Schleswig-Holstein. Sterr & Schmidt (1995)
determined the possible effects of global climate changes for the
German coastal zone using GIS.
Methodology
As stated in the introduction, the coastal defence authorities decided
to use GIS for the establishment of a digital coastal defence database
(CD-GIS). It will consist of several modules, e.g., a digital coastal register,
a digital terrain model (DTM), a scenario-module and a saltmarshmodule. The geographical framework of the CD-GIS was established in
the course of a valuation study of the lowlands in danger of being
flooded during storm surges. The main objective of the valuation was
the cletermination of the consequences of a possible flooding of coastal
lowlands, especially the assessment of possible damage and depreciation
in value. On the basis of this study it will be possible to conduct costbenefit analyses for coastal defence works.
The valuation study was restricted to the establishment of a geographical framework of the coastal lowlands (including the DTM) and an
assessment of economic values in these lowlands. Different studies were
used as a methodological basis (Ball et al., 1991; Karas et al., 1991; Penning-Rowsell et al., 1992; Klaus & Schmidtke, 1990). They differ in
their scales of interest and detail, in their databases as well as in their
methodologies. Gewalt et al. ( 1996) differentiate between micro, meso,
and macro-scale studies. The micro-scale approach is applied mostly
in local studies. The meso-scale approach is used when larger areas are
investigated, as for instance coastal zones on a regional level (Schmidtke,
1995 ). The macro-scale approach is applied at a national or international
level. Micro-scale studies can normally use detailed enumerations on
214
of the coastline measures 564 km, 297 km of which belong to the
mainland and 267 km are island coastlines. Intensive dyking over the
last nine centuries resulted in the reclamation of an area of about
3,514 square kilometres. The study area along the westcoast was
restricted to the area between the State clykes and the so called second
dyke-line (fig. 1 ). This second dyke-line is situated inland from the first
(State) dyke-line. In the case of a dyke-breach only the area between
the first and second dyke-line may be flooded. This area amounts to
1,4 41 km
2 , in which 126,000 people live.
GIS for coastal defence management in Schleswig-Holstein
Today GIS are utilised in almost every field, where geographical data
and spatial information are of importance. The application of GIS for
coastal zone issues has been described in great detail by Bartlett ( 1994).
Jones ( 1995) underlines the great potential of GIS, especially its dataintegration functionalities, for integrated coastal zone management.
In Germany, Schauser (1993) used GIS for a study on spatial planning
in the coastal zone of Schleswig-Holstein. Sterr & Schmidt (1995)
determined the possible effects of global climate changes for the
German coastal zone using GIS.
Methodology
As stated in the introduction, the coastal defence authorities decided
to use GIS for the establishment of a digital coastal defence database
(CD-GIS). It will consist of several modules, e.g., a digital coastal register,
a digital terrain model (DTM), a scenario-module and a saltmarshmodule. The geographical framework of the CD-GIS was established in
the course of a valuation study of the lowlands in danger of being
flooded during storm surges. The main objective of the valuation was
the cletermination of the consequences of a possible flooding of coastal
lowlands, especially the assessment of possible damage and depreciation
in value. On the basis of this study it will be possible to conduct costbenefit analyses for coastal defence works.
The valuation study was restricted to the establishment of a geographical framework of the coastal lowlands (including the DTM) and an
assessment of economic values in these lowlands. Different studies were
used as a methodological basis (Ball et al., 1991; Karas et al., 1991; Penning-Rowsell et al., 1992; Klaus & Schmidtke, 1990). They differ in
their scales of interest and detail, in their databases as well as in their
methodologies. Gewalt et al. ( 1996) differentiate between micro, meso,
and macro-scale studies. The micro-scale approach is applied mostly
in local studies. The meso-scale approach is used when larger areas are
investigated, as for instance coastal zones on a regional level (Schmidtke,
1995 ). The macro-scale approach is applied at a national or international
level. Micro-scale studies can normally use detailed enumerations on
214