CanVis - A Basic Visualization Tool
Use this free software to investigate potential visual impacts from coastal development. Download your coastal background and insert the objects (hotel, house, dock, marina, and other objects) of your choosing.
- Requirements. CanVis is easy to use; no previous experience with photo editing or additional software is required. CanVis is not the tool to use when a detailed analysis is required. The strength of this program is its ease of use, which allows users to easily visualize initial concepts. This is a Windows product and may not run on Macintosh computers.
- CanVis Order Form - CanVis will arrive by mail from the NOAA Coastal Services Center.
- Download the coastal objects, including docks, boats, and houses, from this website to use in the CanVis program.
- Additional information and operating instructions.
CanVis was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agroforestry Center. The NOAA Coastal Services Center expanded the tool to include coastal objects.
Use CanVis to visualize cumulative impacts
CanVis can also be used to visualize sea level rise
For more examples, go to Applications.
Need help or additional information?
CanVis is easy and intuitive to use, but if you need a little extra help, check out these resources:
- The CanVis Resources page has PowerPoint presentations and step-by-step guidance documents to help you get started with visualizations.
- The standard CanVis software package includes additional guidance and an instructional video.
The NOAA Coastal Services Center provides the following aids: virtual presentations; three-hour, regularly scheduled virtual workshops; and in-house workshops to walk you through the software. These are all free of charge. For more information see the Workshop page.
Contact us at canvis@csc.noaa.gov.
