CHAPTER 4
Plans for the Coastal Zone
P.A.G. Watts
ABSTRACT: Coastal Zone and Shoreline Management Planning will benefit from
continued development of “best practice”. High quality, consistent topographic
information is key to the effective integration and interpretation of the varied data that
are essential components in Shoreline Management Plans. These data will deliver
greater benefit if they are used within a GIS that can offer flexibility and the capability
to deliver dynamic planning processes rather than static documentary plans. Ordnance
Survey® (OS), provides key “framework” topographic information for many
applications, through a portfolio of complementary, digitally-based products and
supporting services. Recently OS has been refining a selection from this portfolio to
meet the special needs of Coastal Zone and Shoreline Managers. The chapter describes
these products and discusses their contribution to Coastal Management “best practice”.
Introduction
It is perhaps purely coincidence that within a couple of miles of the OS HQ building
where this chapter was written, is Canute Road, Southampton. This is claimed as the
spot where, according to tradition, King Canute attempted to drive back the sea by his
command. Depending on your perspective and on which version of this story you read,
he was either convincing his courtiers of his impotence, even as a king, to command the
great forces of nature, or alternatively, he was actively involved in an early example of
Coastal Zone or Shoreline Management Planning! That he was not as successful as
other famous (Biblical) predecessors, Moses and Elijah, is perhaps not so surprising
given the “power” they had on their side.
Nevertheless Canute would probably be surprised if he were to return to the
same spot today. He would now find a significant area of well established land
reclamation, the coast having retreated, under human management, by several hundred
metres from the shoreline he knew - such is the “power” that man can now harness.
61
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 61–73.
© 2003 All Rights Reserved. Printed in the Netherlands.
Plans for the Coastal Zone
P.A.G. Watts
ABSTRACT: Coastal Zone and Shoreline Management Planning will benefit from
continued development of “best practice”. High quality, consistent topographic
information is key to the effective integration and interpretation of the varied data that
are essential components in Shoreline Management Plans. These data will deliver
greater benefit if they are used within a GIS that can offer flexibility and the capability
to deliver dynamic planning processes rather than static documentary plans. Ordnance
Survey® (OS), provides key “framework” topographic information for many
applications, through a portfolio of complementary, digitally-based products and
supporting services. Recently OS has been refining a selection from this portfolio to
meet the special needs of Coastal Zone and Shoreline Managers. The chapter describes
these products and discusses their contribution to Coastal Management “best practice”.
Introduction
It is perhaps purely coincidence that within a couple of miles of the OS HQ building
where this chapter was written, is Canute Road, Southampton. This is claimed as the
spot where, according to tradition, King Canute attempted to drive back the sea by his
command. Depending on your perspective and on which version of this story you read,
he was either convincing his courtiers of his impotence, even as a king, to command the
great forces of nature, or alternatively, he was actively involved in an early example of
Coastal Zone or Shoreline Management Planning! That he was not as successful as
other famous (Biblical) predecessors, Moses and Elijah, is perhaps not so surprising
given the “power” they had on their side.
Nevertheless Canute would probably be surprised if he were to return to the
same spot today. He would now find a significant area of well established land
reclamation, the coast having retreated, under human management, by several hundred
metres from the shoreline he knew - such is the “power” that man can now harness.
61
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 61–73.
© 2003 All Rights Reserved. Printed in the Netherlands.