David Hart, the Geographic Information Systems Specialist and Coastal Community Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, and Sarah Wilkins, a graduate student working with David, share how they are using an innovative synthesis of information from satellite, aerial, and ground sources to create a roadmap for adaptive management of the coastal areas of Lake Superior. Their detective work is creating a robust resource that measures land intensity, a combination of nuanced knowledge regarding land use and land cover that will enable all stakeholders in Lake Superior’s sustainability establish resilient strategies for dealing with the environmental challenges of the future.