Using a Geographic Information System to Resolve a Riparian Boundary

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is rapidly evolving into a valuable tool for land surveying professionals. GIS surveying applications include land record databases, land use planning, and the compilation of historical mapping and aerial photography. A professional surveying project can include determining the location of a riparian or littoral boundary. This project shows how a professional land surveyor can utilize GIS software to solve a riparian boundary. The case study for this paper is the Lost River in Klamath County, Oregon. This research project includes historical survey data, maps, and aerial photography. The historical data are combined with current global navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey data and LiDAR imagery to solve the riparian boundary. Figure 1 shows the area of the case study.