4.0 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) 



With the recent increase in power of personal computers and the decrease in cost of 

 more powerful UNIX-based workstations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are being 

 widely used by a diverse group of federal and state agencies and municipalities. GIS is a 

 powerful tool for manipulating large grids of spatial data, such as satellite images, 

 topographic maps, and bathymetric charts, to aid the user in comparing land features, 

 designing transit systems, determining areas and volumes of changes in topography, retrieve 

 information based on its geographic position, etc. 



The DAMOS Program is beginning to incorporate GIS as a tool for spatially 

 characterizing dredging and disposal sites. Available environmental, bathymetric, coastline, 

 and sediment chemistry data for these areas are being collected. As more data are stored in 

 GIS, a comprehensive database for the New England area will develop that will greatly 

 enhance our understanding of any potential effects of dredged material disposal on the 

 environment. The goal is to link the existing DAMOS database to GIS to form an integrated 

 system that would allow the results of queries of the database to be presented both 

 graphically and in tabular form as required. 



DAMOS Summary- Report. 1985-1990 



