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Buxton Today
By the People, for the People
Dare County GIS Launches New Drone Map Showing Hatteras Island Erosion
Interactive map allows public to view and compare drone imagery of coastal erosion over time
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
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Dare County has released a new interactive drone map that allows the public to view and compare images of coastal erosion that has occurred on Hatteras Island over time. The 'Hatteras Island Erosion Drone Imagery' map provides side-by-side comparisons of drone imagery collected during ongoing flights of the villages of Rodanthe and Buxton conducted by Dare County GIS staff.
Why it matters
The situations in Buxton and Rodanthe are very dynamic, with rapid coastal erosion occurring. This new map provides up-to-date information and a historical record to help Dare County officials and the public better understand the changing conditions and make informed decisions.
The details
The purpose of this ongoing project is to collect continual drone imagery that creates a historical record of erosion. Users can select two different dates of drone imagery taken in Buxton or Rodanthe using a dropdown menu, and a swipe tool allows them to move back and forth to compare images side by side, making it easy to visually observe shoreline changes and erosion over time.
- The Hatteras Island Erosion Drone Imagery map is an active and ongoing Dare County GIS project.
- New drone imagery is continually being collected and added to the map as it becomes available.
The players
Dare County GIS
The geographic information systems (GIS) department of Dare County, North Carolina, which developed the new interactive drone map.
Kristen Stilson
A Dare County GIS Analyst who stated the purpose of the new map and its features.
What they’re saying
“The situations in Buxton and Rodanthe are very dynamic, so we wanted to have the most up-to-date information available about the current state of the oceanfront.”
— Kristen Stilson, Dare County GIS Analyst (dredgewire.com)
“We also wanted the public to be able to see the changing conditions as they are occurring, so everyone can get a better understanding of how rapidly this situation is escalating. It is one thing to see it on the news, but with the map you will be able to see the whole landscape change by just swiping between different dates.”
— Kristen Stilson, Dare County GIS Analyst (dredgewire.com)
What’s next
New drone imagery is continually being collected and added to the map as it becomes available, expanding the historical record and improving long-term analysis of coastal erosion.
The takeaway
This new interactive drone map provides a valuable tool for Dare County officials and the public to monitor and understand the rapidly changing coastal erosion situation on Hatteras Island, enabling more informed decision-making about this critical issue.
