IMAGE INTERPRETATION OF COASTAL AREAS 
    
  
M. A. Lazaridou 
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Civil Engineering Faculty, Lab. of Photogrammetry-Remote Sensing. 
P.O. Box 465, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece 
lazamari@civil.auth.gr 
Commission VIII 
KEY WORDS: Image, Interpretation, Optical, Coast, SPOT 
ABSTRACT: 
Coasts were formed with the overall shape of earth’s surface. They represent a landform, as determined by the science of 
geomorphology. Being the boundary between land and sea, they present important features — particularities such as water currents, 
waves, winds, estuaries, drainage network, pollution etc. Coasts are examined at various levels: continents — oceans, states — large 
seas, as for example Mediterranean Sea. Greece, because of its horizontal and vertical partitioning, presents great extent and variety 
of coasts as mainland, peninsulas and islands. Depending on geomorphology, geology, soils, hydrology, land use of the inland and 
the coasts themselves, these are very diverse. Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (defined by Statute II of ISPRS) is the art, 
science, and technology of obtaining reliable information from non-contact imaging and other sensor systems about the Earth and its 
environment, and other physical objects and of processes through recording, measuring, analyzing and representation. This paper 
concerns critical considerations on the above. It also includes the case of Thessaloniki coasts in Greece, particularly river estuaries 
areas (river delta). The study of coastal areas of the wide surroundings of Thessaloniki city includes visual image interpretation — 
digital image processing techniques on satellite data of high spatial resolution. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Coasts represent a landform, as determined by the science of 
geomorphology. They form the boundary between land and sea. 
Basic coastal features (geomorphologic, geologic, soil, 
hydrologic ones) reflect those of the respective inland. 
Horizontal and vertical partitioning of the Greek area favours 
the development of coasts at great extent in mainland and 
islands. 
Various multi-sided human activities (residential, touristic, 
cultural, etc.) and nature activities (formation of deltas, etc.) are 
developed in coastal areas. 
Consequently, coasts and generally coastal areas are of great 
importance and for this reason different scientific disciplines are 
involved in their study. 
In this paper, we search through the possibilities of visual 
interpretation of high resolution image data and enhanced image 
data on the study of coastal areas and particularly on the coastal 
area of the wide surroundings of the city of Thessaloniki in 
northern Greece. 
2. STUDY AREA 
This paper concerns the coastal area of the wide surroundings of 
the city of Thessaloniki, figure 1. 
The coastline extends over a length around Thermaikos Gulf, at 
the central part of which, the urban area of Thessaloniki has 
been developed (figure 2, number 1). Other settlements, 
suburban areas, are located at the eastern part of the gulf (figure 
2, number 2). At the western coast of Thermaikos Gulf, four 
rivers (Gallikos, Axios, Loudias, Aliakmonas) discharge, 
presented in figure 2 with numbers 3,4,5,6 respectively. The 
deltas of the above rivers form an extended wetland protected 
by Ramsar Convention. 
  
  
   
     
   
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Figure 1. The wider study area