GIS Analysis and Image Processing

Our knowledge and understanding of the marine environment and its processes are increasingly dependent on advanced technologies for acquiring, analyzing and visualizing geospatial information. The ability and need to accurately combine and visualize high resolution environmental data at regional and global scales have driven the rapid co-evolution of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and satellite global positioning (GPS) instrumentation for use in both terrestrial and marine environments. Geospatial modeling across the land/sea interface can greatly enhance our ability to interpret the relationships between coastal and near-shore marine patterns and processes.

The SFML utilizes advanced integrated GIS technologies in developing GIS-based species/habitat databases and spatial data models. Final products include very high resolution digital terrain models and derived data for nearshore marine environments for use in efficient, sustainable, and environmentally sound management of marine resources. All data products available in the SFML Data Library have FGDC-compliant metadata.