Coastal Habitat Restoration GIS (CHRGIS)

CHRGIS

Coastal Habitat Restoration GIS (CHRGIS) provides a data archive and online data visualize tool for survey data and aerial imagery that serve to document changes at beaches in the CEPRA Beach Monitoring Program. CHRGIS provides an interactive website that allows the user to visualize historic aerial photography, beach profile survey data, and other site specific information for (CEPRA) beach nourishment locations along the Texas Coast. The user friendly, online tool does not require special software and provides visualization in a GIS- (Geographic Information System) type environment through ArcGIS for Servers technology. Educational information and tutorials for the online visualization tools are provided.

The CEPRA Beach Monitoring Program is integral to supporting disaster preparedness protocol. The monitoring program and online tools provide for the analysis, documentation, online review (on-the-fly) and guidance reporting that supports the TGLO in the most timely research-based decision making. CBI research is applied to provide guidance reporting to TGLO staff for application to Beneficial Use Dredge Material (BUDM) nourishment planning and post-storm restoration as well as for the FEMA reimbursement process after hurricanes impact the Texas coast.

CHRGIS provides a repository for survey data and aerial photography for beach restoration sites located along bay and Gulf shorelines. In addition to beach nourishment (adding beach quality sand to the beach) some beach restoration projects include dune construction, planting of vegetation (to stabilize the dune) and shore protection (coastal structures such as groins, articulated mats etc.).

CHRGIS can be applied to demonstrate the inter-relationships between coastal processes, coastal structures, shoreline change and the performance of shore and habitat restoration projects along the Texas Coast. In addition, CHRGIS provides an accessible archive of pre- and post-storm survey data that is required to apply for FEMA emergency renourishment funding.