The use of GIS and geospatial technologies in support of coastal zones management-results of an international survey

This paper reports on the results of an international survey looking at the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other geospatial technologies in support of coastal zones management. The survey, conducted in fall 2012, was answered by 328 respondents coming from 59 different countries. It aimed at assessing the proportion of people using such technologies, identifying which specific technologies are used, how often they are used, what they are used for, etc. A set of questions also asked more specifically about the potential of using volunteered geographic information (VGI) in the context of coastal zones management. Results indicate that 92% of the respondents’ organizations use geospatial tools, with 89% of those using GIS tools. They also indicated that although possibly useful, the use of VGI in this context may be challenging, mainly due to a perception that the quality of those data may not be sufficient.