Technical debate and new viewers to advance integrated management of the Catalan coastline | icgc

Technical debate and new viewers to advance integrated management of the Catalan coastline

23/02/2026 07:51
Imatge
ICGC Auditorium during the event Challenges in Coastal Management

We held the Second edition of the Conference Challenges in Coastal Management with the aim of creating a space for collaboration and exchange among public administrations, experts, and local stakeholders to move toward integrated and sustainable management of the Catalan coastline. During the session, the main current challenges were analyzed, including the effects of climate change, coastal dynamics, and the need for rigorous geospatial information to support decision-making.

In this context, the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia presented eight new viewers that integrate data and knowledge about the Catalan coast. These tools facilitate the consultation and analysis of key information to strengthen territorial planning and management, in coordination with the Government of Catalonia.

These viewers are the following:

  • Beach evolution, showing changes in shoreline position and beach width over the last 68 years.
  • Catalonia coast comparison, enabling analysis of before-and-after orthophotos to assess storm damage.
  • Coastal, integrating information on coastal morphology, including bathymetry, orthophotos, and shoreline data.
  • Coastal geomorphology, integrating geomorphological classification of the coast, dune surface mapping, and sediment characterization.
  • Coastal hazard, identifying areas at geological risk from rockfalls and landslides along the coast.
  • Coastal subsidence, presenting vertical ground movements based on Sentinel-1 satellite radar data.
  • Permanent flooding due to sea-level rise, showing areas susceptible to flooding under different climate scenarios.
  • Storm impact, compiling flooded areas from recent maritime storm events such as those of January 2017, Gloria (2020) and Nelson (2024).

Links of interest

- Press release from the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition.