In cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA) has conducted a Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) for southern New Jersey based on the classification and analysis of a time series of Landsat satellite imagery.  The initial C-CAP effort was further modified and expanded to meet the needs of the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program. 
 

A combination of multi-spectral and GIS-based approaches were used to classifiy leaf-on and leaf-off Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery to map upland and wetland vegetation communities.     Years mapped by CRSSA were 1972, 1984 and 1995.  Results show development within the Barnegat Bay watershed has increased 18% to 21% to 28% during the years 1972, 1984 and 1995 respectively.

Animation by the Rutgers University Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA), 2004.