Thinking Out Loud: Landsat Shoreline Coverage and My Shoreline Quest
Landsat ETM+ 2000 Shoreline Coverage
(622-mosaics)
If you visit my site with any sort of frequency you know my ambition is to map all of the shorelines of the world using Landsat ETM+ 2000 as base imagery. The scope of my potential endeavor is enormous for one person. The above map shows 622 Landsat mosaics (dark green and purple grids) that include shoreline imagery. I have all of them. Some of these areas are highly complex shorelines (southwestern end of Finland; Philippines; Japan between Honshu and Shikoku). Some of the areas (Greenland, northern Russia, northern Canada) are covered with snow effectively hiding the shorelines.
This quest to map world shorelines seems daunting, to say the least. Impossible, to be blunt. I have a vision of a world map with consistent, high-quality shorelines at scales between 1:125,000 and 1:62,750. I believe it will be accomplished using Landsat ETM+ 2000 imagery. However, to make it happen in my lifetime - I need help!
Doesn't this sound like an admirable quest? Like a "Mission Impossible". Your requirements are relatively simple - a computer, digitizing software that can handle MrSid formatted images (Global Mapper or others) and a willingness to carefully trace shorelines, following a cartographically sound protocol. Once you have completed your Landsat mosaic (1 of 622) you send the completed files to me and I, along with others, will stitch the files into a world shoreline map.
Honestly, it sounds so possible when I lay it out like this. All I need are willing digitizers and time. Any takers?
OT: Thinking
I'd be interested in helping out with the Isle of Man (the island between England and Ireland). I've already started as part of the Openstreetmap project but I've been doing it using the online app and it's taking me a long time. I'm sure if I had all the data locally, I could do it much faster. You may also be interested in the Isle of Wight coastline which another person in the project has already outlined from an out of copyright map of the area.
Posted by
Dan Karran |
5/10/2006 10:04:00 AM