|
In March, 1994, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Office of Mission to Planet
Earth awarded a research grant to create a partnership of organizations to
study urban growth along the coastal corridors of Charleston, South Carolina
and Savannah, Georgia. These organizations included the
Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, University of South
Carolina, SC Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Tech Research
Institute, Georgia Wildlife Federation, and the Berkeley County GIS
Department.
The goals of the project
were to:
-
process and analyze
land-satellite imagery of the two areas taken between 1973 and 1994
-
measure coastal change
by mapping urban expansion using digital image analysis techniques
supplemented with local ancillary data interpreted from city and county
historical air photos and land use maps
-
deliver this information
and technology to local and regional governments to enhance planning
capabilities and awareness of coastal urban dynamics
The initial phase of the
study was completed in the fall of 1997. It found an incredibly high
level of growth, especially in the outlying areas of Berkeley and Dorchester
counties.
For instance:
-
The region's urban area
grew by 225% during that 21-year period, while population grew by 41%
-
The urban areas of
Berkeley and Dorchester counties expanded by 687% and 868% respectively,
while their populations grew by 119% and 112%
-
Charleston County's
urban area increased by 126%, while it's population grew by 11%
|
SERVICES
