Implementing GIS to resolve environmental coastal problems in Varna

The city of Varna, like many other coastal cities along the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, has a lot of problems related to the environmental protection for many years, including those with coastal zone management. Recently, the coastal slope problems due to land-slides apeared as very urgent and difficult to be solved. This paper describes a method to solve some of the problems by analysing the data collected. A data layer representing the complete hydrologic network including transport lines through slopes, lakes, streams, rivers, is a necessary component of many hydrologic and coastal applications. The coastal area of the city has significant importance-sea ports, resorts, cargo terminals. Most of them add environmental problems to the Black Sea in adjacent territories and the region as a whole. The attempt described is to solve these problems on the ground. This paper describes a process to analyse the area specific geographical data for a decision. Making a front-end application using ESRI's ArcView 3.0a/Avenue, user-friendly procedures were prepared to automate most of the functions. This application generates maps using data collected during the last two years. The data acquisition is performed according to the Bulgarian standards. Converting procedures are created and tested as well. Finally, a technology for updating data is approved.