This all would not have been possible if the Army Corps' coastal team didn't have the drive to pursue this valuable data. They saw the opportunity and they took it.
DR. JOANNE CASTAGNA is a Public Affairs Specialist and Writer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. She can be reached at joanne.castagna@usace.army.mil.
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Robert Smith, Senior Biologist, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said, "The data is being used to design and track changes to habitats we built for endangered species, such as the Piping Plover, an endangered bird that nests along the shore in the summer. We built habitats for the plovers for it to nest and forage." This data is valuable to the Army Corps' projects, and also educates the public about our projects. Cusano said, "This past fall we had a number of nor'easters that caused coastal damage. Because of this, residents con- tacted us. They sought information about damages and if rebuilding was needed. We were able to use the data to better respond to their inquiries." This data is also available to the public and other agencies. The JALBTCX team posts the data on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Digital Coast website. The website is a multiyear archive of survey data acquired along U.S. coasts by partners in the Federal mapping community and some state agencies. A person is able to search for a specific coastal area, learn about available data, customize exactly what they want to view - using the multiple layers of information available, and save the information in the format they can use for their intended purpose. To view the dataset the JALBTCX gathered recently for the Army Corps' New York District, please visit: https://coast.noaa.gov/dataviewer/#/lidar/search/ where:ID=9000 Cusano said, "In my opinion, this data is a win for every - body. It helps the Army Corps monitor and cost-effectively improve our coastal projects and it helps our agency educate the public about their coasts and the work we are doing for them, as we begin a new Atlantic Hurricane Season." A sample of the type of elevation images the JALBTCX team developed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. This image shows the shoreline elevations along the coast of Staten Island, New York. Photo: USACE.
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