Metadata: Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Meredith G. Kratzmann Publication_Date: 20260622 Title: Alabama: baseline generated to calculate shoreline change rates Edition: 1.0 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P1JE2KSO Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JE2KSO Online_Linkage: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/69e2afc2b66b0195694c11e3 Larger_Work_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Meredith G. Kratzmann Originator: Amy S. Farris Originator: Kathryn M. Weber Publication_Date: 2026 Title: National Shoreline Change—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data from the 1800s to the 2020s for the coast of Alabama Edition: 1.0 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P1JE2KSO Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Reston, VA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Other_Citation_Details: suggested citation: Kratzmann, M.G., Farris, A.S., and Weber, K.M., 2026, National Shoreline Change—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data from the 1800s to the 2020s for the coast of Alabama: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JE2KSO. Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JE2KSO Online_Linkage: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/69e2a7d5b66b0195694c1197 Description: Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from various historical sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. Shorelines are compiled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and analyzed in the USGS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to calculate rates of change. Keeping a record of historical shoreline positions is an effective method to monitor change over time, enabling scientists to identify areas most susceptible to erosion or accretion. These data can help coastal managers understand which areas of the coast are vulnerable to change. The shoreline positions and shoreline change rates provide actionable information to homeowners, coastal communities, and managers of public and private properties to improve resiliency for coastal hazards. Purpose: This dataset includes reference baseline segments used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to calculate rate-of-change statistics for the coast of Alabama. The baseline layer serves as the starting point for orthogonally-oriented transects generated by the DSAS application. The transects intersect each shoreline and establish measurement points used to calculate shoreline change rates. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2026 Currentness_Reference: publication date Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.350587 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.517445 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.278659 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.216387 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: oceans Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Theme_Keyword: Baseline Theme_Keyword: Shoreline Change Theme_Keyword: Digital Shoreline Analysis System Theme_Keyword: DSAS Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey Theme_Keyword: USGS Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program Theme_Keyword: CMHRP Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Theme_Keyword: WHCMSC Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets Theme_Keyword: coastal processes Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier Theme_Keyword: USGS:69e2afc2b66b0195694c11e3 Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GNIS Place_Keyword: State of Alabama Place_Keyword: Dauphin Island Place_Keyword: Fort Morgan Alabama Place_Keyword: Gulf Shores Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: Gulf Coast Place_Keyword: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Place_Keyword: United States of America Place_Keyword: North America Access_Constraints: No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details. Use_Constraints: These data are marked with a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal License. These data are in the public domain and do not have any use constraints. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset. These data are not to be used for navigation. Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Meredith G. Kratzmann Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543-1598 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: mkratzmann@contractor.usgs.gov Browse_Graphic: Browse_Graphic_File_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/69e2afc2b66b0195694c11e3?name=AL_baseline.png&allowOpen=true Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Map view of data. Yellow line indicates extent of the baseline for Alabama. Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PNG Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise; Esri ArcGIS Pro 3.5.5 Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Rachel E. Henderson Originator: Amy S. Farris Originator: Meredith G. Kratzmann Originator: Marie K. Bartlett Originator: Ayhan Ergul Originator: John McAndrews Originator: Raison Cibaj Originator: Jessica L. Zichichi Originator: Emily A. Himmelstoss Originator: E. Robert Thieler Publication_Date: 2026 Title: Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 6.1 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: publication Series_Information: Series_Name: software release Issue_Identification: version 6.1.177 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Reston, VA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Other_Citation_Details: Use the first link to access the publication page. The second link is to the current version of DSAS (v6.1). The third link directs to the DSAS project page. Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1NHMJNC Online_Linkage: https://code.usgs.gov/cch/dsas Online_Linkage: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/whcmsc/science/digital-shoreline-analysis-system-dsas Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The attributes in this layer are based on the requirements for use within DSAS. Logical_Consistency_Report: Each polyline has a unique identification attribute (DSAS_ID). This field is used by the DSAS to designate the alongshore order of baselines, if more than one baseline segment exists. Completeness_Report: This baseline file is complete and contains the baseline segment(s) used to cast transects along sections of the coastal region where shoreline position data were present. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The baseline serves as a reference point for transects cast by DSAS. It does not correspond to any real-world feature. Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: A baseline was constructed with respect to the time series of shoreline positions using standard editing tools in ArcGIS Pro v3.5.5. The offshore baseline was positioned to conform to the overall orientation of the shorelines. This was done so that the transects, which are generated by DSAS from the baseline, would intersect roughly perpendicular to the general trend of the shorelines. ID values were added to each segment in sequential order alongshore starting with 1. This and the following process steps were performed by Meredith G. Kratzmann. Process_Date: 2025 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Meredith G. Kratzmann Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543-1598 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: mkratzmann@contractor.usgs.gov Process_Step: Process_Description: The baseline shapefile was loaded into the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) v6.1 software to perform rate calculations. Process_Date: 2026 Process_Step: Process_Description: The baseline shapefile was projected in ArcGIS Pro v3.5.5 > Geoprocessing > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Project. Parameters: Input Coordinate System - NAD_1983_2011_UTM_Zone_16N; Output Coordinate System - GCS_WGS_1984; transformation = WGS_1984_(ITRF08)_To_NAD_1983_2011. Process_Date: 2026 Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: SDTS_Terms_Description: SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: String Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 4 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: WGS_1984 Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984 Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: AL_baseline.shp Entity_Type_Definition: Table containing attribute information associated with the data set for Alabama. Entity_Type_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute: Attribute_Label: FID Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number used as a unique identifier of an object within a table primarily used in shapefiles. Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Shape Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry. Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Feature type. Attribute: Attribute_Label: DSAS_ID Attribute_Definition: Field required by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. DSAS uses this value to determine the ordering sequence of transects when the baseline feature contains multiple segments. Individual segments are numbered sequentially alongshore. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 1 Range_Domain_Maximum: 4 Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The entity and attribute information provided here describes the tabular data associated with the dataset. Please review the individual attribute descriptions for detailed information. Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - GS ScienceBase Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing address Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302 City: Denver State_or_Province: CO Postal_Code: 80225 Country: United States Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sciencebase@usgs.gov Resource_Description: The dataset contains the polyline baselines used for the analysis of shoreline data (SHP and other shapefile components), browse graphic, and the FGDC CSDGM metadata. Distribution_Liability: Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: Shapefile Format_Version_Number: Esri ArcGIS Pro 3.5.5 Format_Specification: Esri polyline shapefile (compressed to ZIP format) Format_Information_Content: These files (.cpg, .dbf, .prj, .sbn, .sbx, .shp, .html, and .shx) are a collection of files with a common filename prefix and must be downloaded and stored in the same directory. Together they are the components of the shapefile and include FGDC CSDGM-compliant metadata in HTML format. Transfer size is in MB. File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip Transfer_Size: 0.012 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JE2KSO Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/69e2afc2b66b0195694c11e3 Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/69e2afc2b66b0195694c11e3 Access_Instructions: The first link is to the USGS publication page, the second link is to the dataset page, and the third link downloads the data. Fees: None Technical_Prerequisites: These data are available in a polyline shapefile format. The user must have software to read and process the data components of a shapefile. Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20260622 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Meredith G. Kratzmann Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543-1598 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov Contact_Instructions: The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with USGS. Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 Metadata_Time_Convention: local time