About GIS Data Files

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data is a collection of ArcView Shapefiles data generated by the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems. The datum for all files is NAD83-90, projected in Geographic, in decimal degrees. All Shapefiles are statewide coverages unless otherwise noted. The Shapefiles listed below are zipped for downloading and can be uncompressed using shareware programs Winzip or pkunzip (links open in a separate window).  

Unzipped files contain a metadata file with a .met or .xml extension. The metatdata is compliant with standards set forth by the Federal Geographic Data Committee.

If software is needed to view the unzipped files, a free copy of ArcExplorer may be obtained from the ESRI Web site. ArcExplorer 2 may be used for multiple map and GIS information sources on the Web.

• To obtain a free copy of ArcExplorer 2 (link opens in a separate window).

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About Aerial Photography Files

High resolution aerial photographs obtained through the Bureau's Regional Coastal Monitoring Program are available for downloading. Files are named according to the following convention: 

where CC is a two letter abbreviation for the county, YY is the last two numbers of the year of acquisition, R is the type of monument and XXX is the lowest number range monument in the photo. The images are compressed using MrSID software and are accurate to two meters or better. 

• To view MrSID images in your Web browser, a free plugin is available from the Lizardtech Website (Link opens in a separate window)...

To download aerial photography...

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More Information 

For more information about Beach and Coastal GIS data, please e-mail Gary Cook. Phone numbers can be found on our Staff Contacts page.