Sigillographic Representation of Archimorphs and Ideograms as Related to the BCCS (Biophysical Cross-Shore Classification System) Using Distributive Vexillology in Coastal Belt Cartographic Displays.

Finkl, C.W. and Makowski, C., 2023. Sigillographic representation of archimorphs and ideograms as related to the BCCS (Biophysical Cross-Shore Classification System) using distributive vexillology in coastal belt cartographic displays. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(2), 234–245. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The sigillation (sigilization) process (i.e. creation of flags, signs, symbols, emblems) provides an opportunity to characterize coastal belts via semiotics through rapid visual inspection of satellite imagery. Emblematic depictions of eco-geomorphological units using the Biophysical Cross-Shore Classification System (BCCS) is offered as a semiotic proposal using graphic symbolization based on the development of a unique color scheme for cross-shore archetypes coupled with ideograms that are derived from predefined archimorphs. The resulting sigil formats are amenable to flagging coastal belts in a symbolization that combines color with ideographic displays. Although compliant to larger scale (smaller areas) coastal surveying and mapping efforts, the sigils are most useful in the characterization of smaller scale (larger areas) satellite image views. Derivation of classificatory units at smaller scales requires zoom capabilities to ascertain the dominant archetypes presented in the coastal sigil flags. In addition to the small-scale presentation of coastal belt characteristics as vexillographic overlays on satellite images, the sigillation process allows the amalgamation of colors and ideographs to represent dimorphic and polymorphic sigil combinations, as in the case, for example, of beach-dune (Be-Du) dimorphs or barrier island (beach-dune-wetland-lagoon-wetland; Be-Du-W-L-W) polymorphs. These color-symbol schema allow for a new kind of kinematic coastal classification mapping, where distributive dynamism results in cartographic displays at presentation scales (depending on paper page size) for using the BCCS. These cognitive mapping procedures compliment algorithmic autoclassification via machine interpretation by providing a rapid and simplified means of coastal characterization based on visual ques and cerebral perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]