The Geospacial Information for Sustainable Development (GISD) initiative provided processing of satellite data and construction of GIS maps that help analyze rates of change over time in coastal resource and land use patterns. These analyses, in turn, help identify priority locations for coastal action planning and conservation, aqua-culture and tourism development planning, and land use zoning. The project was intended to provide a major boost to long-term efforts in Tanzania to use science to improve the management of the nation’s coastal resources.