Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Coastal vulnerability assessment using Geospatial technologies and a Multi-Criteria Decision Making approach – a case study of Kozhikode District coast, Kerala State, India

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Climate change-induced marine hazards are increasingly threatening coastal zones, with a two-fold increase in the last decade. In this study, we assessed coastal vulnerability using the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method in conjunction with geospatial applications. Data on five physical variables: geomorphology, coastal slope, shoreline change history, spring tide range and significant wave height were extracted from the optical and microwave remote sensing images, existing maps and GIS processing for the 78-km-long coastal zone of Kozhikode district, which was taken as a case study. Weighted analysis of these variables and their subunits was performed using the analytical hierarchical method. These data were then processed to calculate the coastal vulnerability index (CVI), which ranged between 0.06 and 0.44 for the study area with higher CVI values indicating higher risk of hazards. The coastal risk analysis made using the geometric interval classification of the entire range of CVI values indicated that more than a third of the Kozhikode coast is under high risk to coastal hazards. Our study demonstrated the importance of integrating geospatial and MCDM analysis for a robust coastal vulnerability assessment in determining the hazard proneness of different coastal segments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams WJL, Saaty R (2003) Super decisions software guide. Super Decis 9:43

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed N, Howlader N, Hoque MA-A, Pradhan B (2021) Coastal Vulnerability Assessment along the eastern coast of Bangladesh using geospatial techniques. Ocean Coast Manag 199:105408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali PY, Narayana AC (2015) Short-term morphological and shoreline changes at Trinkat Island, Andaman and Nicobar, India after the 2004 tsunami. Mar Geodesy 38:26–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen JH, Al-Hamdani Z, Harvey ET et al (2020) Relative impacts of multiple human stressors in estuaries and coastal waters in the North Sea-Baltic Sea transaction zone. Sci Total Environ 704:135316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonioli F, Falco GD, Presti VL et al (2020) Relative sea-level rise and potential submersion risk for 2100 on 16 coastal plains of the Mediterranean sea. Water 12:2173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appeaning Addo K (2014) Coastal Vulnerability Index to Sea Level Rise in Ghana. Coastal and Marine Research 2(1):1. https://doi.org/10.12966/cmr.01.01.2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arns A, Wahl T, Wolff C et al (2020) Non-linear interaction modulated global extreme sea levels, coastal flood exposure, and impacts. Nat Commun 11:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri M, Ibrahim ZZ, Mansor SB et al (2019) Shoreline change analysis and erosion prediction using historical data of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysiua. Environ Earth Sci 78:477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baig MRI, Ahmad IA, Shahfahad et al (2020) Analysis of shoreline changes in Visakhapatnam coastal tract of Andhra Pradesh, India: an application of digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS). Ann GIS 26:361–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barros JL, Santos AE, Tavares AO (2015) Composite methodology for tsunami vulnerability assessment based on the numerical simulation of 1755 Lisbon tsunami-application on two Portuguese coastal areas Safety and Reliability: Methodology and Applications-Nowakowski et al. (Eds), pp.1581–1588

  • Bini M, Rossi V (2021) Climate change and anthropogenic impact on coastal environments. Water 13:1182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boruff B, Emrich C, Cutter SL (2005) Erosion hazard vulnerability of US casotal countries. J Coastal Res 21(5):932–942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadhead J, Leslie R (2007) Coastal protection in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami: What role for forests and trees? Rap publication 219. https://www.fao.org/documents/card/es/c/e453fd03-505c-5f7e-af5b-6135fd72d873/. Accessed 5 Sep 2021

  • Davis R Jr, Fitzgerald DM (2009) Beaches and coasts. Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayal KS, Deo RC, Apan AA (2018) Spatio-temporal drought risk mapping approach and its application in the drought-prone region of south-east Queensland, Australia. Nat Hazards 93(2):823–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng J, Woodroffe CD, Rogers K, Harff J (2017) Morphogenetic modelling of coastal and estuarine evolution. Earth Sci Rev 171:254–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.05.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domínguez L, Anfuso G, Gracia FJ (2005) Vulnerability assessment of a retreating coast in SW Spain. Environ Geol 47:1037–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) (2018) Standard classification schemes. (Online). Accessed on November 19, 2018. http://webhelp.esri.com

  • FitzGerald DM, Fenster MS, Argow BA, Buynevich IV (2008) Coastal impacts due to sea-level rise. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci 36(1):601–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz V (1991) Global coastal hazards from future sea level rise. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecolo 89:379–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz V, Kanciruk P (1989) Assessment of global coastal hazards from sea-level rise. Proceedings of the 6th Symposium on Coastal and Ocean management, ASCE, July 11–14, 1989, Charleston, SC

  • Guillard-Gonçalves C, Cutter SL, Emrich CT, Zêzere JL (2015) Application of Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI) and delineation of natural risk zones in Greater Lisbon, Portugal. J Risk Res 18:651–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hadipour V, Vafaie F, Deilami K (2020) Coastal flooding risk assessment using a GIS-based spatial multi-criteria decision analysis approach. Water 12:2379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hegde AV, Reju VR (2007) Development of coastal vulnerability index for Mangalore coast, India. J Coastal Res 23:1106–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoozemans FM, Hulsbergen CH (2021) Sea Level Rise: A Worldwide Assessment of Risk and Protection Costs. Climate Change Impact on Coastal Habitation. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003069935

  • Hoque MA-A, Ahmed N, Pradhan B, Roy S (2019) Assessment of coastal vulnerability to multi-hazardous events using geospatial techniques along the eastern coast of Bangladesh. Ocean Coast Manag 181:104898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes P, Brundrit GB, Searson S (1992) The vulnerability of Walvis Bay to rising sea levels. J Coastal Res 8(4):868–881

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2021) Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pirani A, Connors SL, Pean C, Berger S, Caud N, Chen Y, Goldfarb L, Gomis MI, Huang M, Leitzell K, Lonnoy E, Matthews JBR, Maycock TK, Waterfiled T, Yelekci O, Yu R, Hou B (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press. In press

  • Kaliraj S, Chandrasekhar N, Magesh NS (2014) Impacts of wave energy and littoral currents on shoreline erosion/accretion along the south-west coast of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu using DSAS and geospatial technology. Environ Earth Sci 71:4523–4542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karthikeyan R, Venkatesan KGS, Chandrasekar A (2016) A comparison of strengths and weaknesses for analytical hierarchy process. J Chem Pharm Sci 9:12–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Katikou P (2020) 8 Human impact in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems and climate change: emerging toxins. In: Climate Change and Marine and Freshwater Toxins. De Gruyter, pp 253–302

  • Kay R, Jaqueline Alder P (2005) Coastal Planning and Management Chinese simplifies, language. Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar AA, Kunte PD (2012) Coastal vulnerability assessment for Chennai, east coast of India using geospatial techniques. Nat Hazards 64:853–872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar TS, Mahendra RS, Nayak S, Radhakrishnan K, Sahu KC (2010) Coastal vulnerability assessment for Orissa state, East Coast of India. J Coast Res 26(3):523–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumbier K, Carvalho RC, Woodroffee CD (2018) Modelling hydrodynamic impacts of sea-level rise on wave-dominated Australian Estuaries with differing geomorphology. J Mar Sci Eng 6:66. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse6020066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin L, Pussella P (2017) Assessment of vulnerability for coastal erosion with GIS and AHP techniques case study: Southern coastline of Sri Lanka. Nat Resource Model 30:e12146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Wen J, Huang Y et al (2015) Human settlement and regional development in the context of climate change: a spatial analysis of low elevation coastal zones in China. Mitig Adapt Strat Glob Change 20:527–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahapatra M, Ramakrishnan R, Rajawat AS (2015) Coastal vulnerability assessment of Gujarat coast to sea level rise using GIS techniques: a preliminary study. J Coast Conserv 19:241–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-015-0384-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mani Murali R, Ankita M, Amrita S, Vethamony P (2013) Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of Puducherry coast, India, using the analytical hierarchical process. Nat Hazard 13:3291–3311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehvar S, Filatova T, Dastgheib A et al (2018) Quantifying economic value of coastal ecosystem services: a review. J Mar Sci Eng 6:5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messerli P, Murniningtyas E, Eloundou-Enyegue P et al (2019) Global sustainable development report 2019: the future is now-science for achieving sustainable development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24797GSDR_report_2019.pdf. Accessed 24 Aug 2021

  • Mihoubi MK, Belkessa R, Latreche MA (2014) Study of the vulnerability of coastal area of the Algerian basin with the GIS. Int J Environ Sci Dev 5(6):522–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra D, Chandra P (2014) Coastal vulnerability index for parts of Orissa coast, east coast of India, Bay of Bengal. J Remote Sens GIS 5(3):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Mujabar PS, Chandrasekhar N (2011) A shoreline change analysis along the coast between Kanyakumari and Tuticorin, India, using digital shoreline analysis system. Geo-Spatial Inform Sci 14:282–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullick MRA, Tanim AH, Islam SS (2019) Coastal vulnerability analysis of Bangladesh coast using fuzzy logic based geospatial techniques. Ocean Coast Manag 174:154–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naga Kumar KChV, Demudu G, Dinesan VP, Girish Gopinath, Deepak PM, Lakshmanadinesh K, Nageswara Rao K (2019) Erosional Responses of Eastern and Western Coastal Regions of India, Under Global, Regional, and Local Scale Causes. In Ramkumar Mu, Arthur James R, Menier D, Kumaraswamy K (eds.) Coastal Zone Management. lsevier, Burlington, 155–179

  • Nageswara Rao K, Subraelu P, NagaKumar KChV et al (2010) Impacts of sediment retention by dams on delta shoreline recession: evidences from the Krishna and Godavari deltas, India. Earth Surf Proc Land 35:817–827

    Google Scholar 

  • Nageswara Rao K, Subraelu P, Venkateswara Rao T, HemaMalini B et al (2008) Sea-level rise and coastal vulnerability: an assessment of Andhra Pradesh coast, India through remote sensing and GIS. J Coast Conserv 12:195–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls RJ, Hanson SE, Lowe JA et al (2021) Integrating new sea-level scenarios into coastal risk and adaptation assessments: An ongoing process. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change e706

  • Norman LM, Villarreal ML, Lara-Valencia F, Yuan Y, Nie W, Wilso S, Sleeter R (2012) Mapping socio-environmentally vulnerable populations access and exposure to ecosystem services at the US–Mexico borderlands. Appl Geogr 34:413–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oguztimur S (2011) Why fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach for transport problems?, ERSA conference papers ersa11p438, European Regional Science Association.

  • Oppenheimer M, Glavovic B, Hinkel J et al (2019) Sea level rise and implications for low lying islands, coasts and communities. https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-4-sea-level-rise-and-implications-for-low-lying-islands-coasts-and-communities/. Accessed 2 Aug 2021

  • Passeri DL, Hagen SC, Medeiros SC et al (2015) The dynamic effects of sea level rise on low-gradient coastal landscapes: A review. Earth’s Future 3:159–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul P, Suman KS (2013) Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability along Chavakkad, Kerala Coast in India, using Geospatial Techniques. In proceedings of International Conference on Materials for the Future – Innovative Materials, Processes, Products and Applications. ISBN 978–93–82338–83–3 © 2013 Bonfring

  • Ramik J (2020) Pairwise Comparison Matrices in Decision-Making. In Pairwise Comparisons Method. Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems. Springer, Cham, vol. 690. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39891-0_2

  • Rani NS, Satyanarayana ANV, Bhaskaran PK (2015) Coastal vulnerability assessment studies over India: a review. Nat Hazards 77:405–428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1597-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao M, Ramamurthy V, Raj B (2015) Standards, Spatial Framework Technologies for National GIS. National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore (ISBN 978–93–83566–12–9)

  • Remoundou K, Koundouri P, Kontogianni A et al (2009) Valuation of natural marine ecosystems: an economic perspective. Environ Sci Policy 12:1040–1051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richard D Jr, FitzGerald D (2004) Beaches and Coasts. Blackwell Science Ltd

    Google Scholar 

  • Rong-Shuo CAI, Hong-Jian TAN (2020) Key points on the sea level rise and implications for low lying islands, coasts and communities from the IPCC special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate. Advances in Climate Change Research

  • Ruzic I, Dugonjic Jovancevic S, Benac C, Krvavica N (2019) Assessment of the coastal vulnerability index in an area of complex geological conditions on the Krk Island. Northeast Adriatic Sea Geosciences 9(5):219

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (1977) A scaling method for priorities in hierarchial structures. J Math Psychol 15:234–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sathiya RD, Vaithiyanathan V (2012) Estimation of significant wave height using satellite data. Res J Appl Sci Eng Technol 4:5332–5338

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw R, Reade WC, Collins LR, Verlinde J (1998) Preferential concentration of cloud droplets by turbulence: effects on the early evolution of cumulus cloud froplet spectra. J Atmos Sci 55:1965–1976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small C, Gornitz V, Cohen JE (2000) Coastal Hazards and the global distribution of human population. Environ Geosci 7:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thieler ER, Hammar-Klose ES (1999) National assessment of coastal vulnerability to sea level rise: preliminary results for the U.S. Atlanta coast”, USGS, Open File Report 99–593: available via http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/of99-593/index.html. Accessed 2 Aug 2021

  • Thompson D (2011) Rapid Geospatial Assessment Creating a Lahar Vulnerability Index for Mount Rainier, Washington

  • Tibbetts JR, van Proosdij D (2013) Development of a relative coastal vulnerability index in a macro-tidal environment for climate change adaptation. J Coast Conserv 17:775–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandever JP, Siegel EM, Brubaker JM, Friedrichs CT, Asce M (2008) Influence of spectral width on wave height parameter estimated in coastal environments. J Waterw Port Coast Ocean Eng 134(3):187–194. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-950X(2008)134:3(187)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Church JA, Zhang X, Chen X (2021) Reconciling global mean and regional sea level change in projections and observations. Nat Commun 12:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Weis SWM, Agostini VN, Roth LM et al (2016) Assessing vulnerability: an integrated approach for mapping adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure. Clim Change 136:615–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia J, Zhang W, Ferguson AC et al (2021) A novel method to evaluate chemical consentrations in muddy and sandy coastal regions before and after oil exposures. Environ Pollut 269:116102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanar T, Kocaman S, Gokceoglu C (2020) Use of Mamdani Fuzzy algorithms for multi-hazard susceptibility assessment in a developing urban settlement ( Mamak, Ankara, Turkey). ISPRS Int J Geo-Inform 9:114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabeo A, Pizzol L, Agostini P, Critto A, Giove S, Marcomini A (2011) Regional risk assessment for contaminated sites Part 1: Vulnerability assessment by multicriteria decision analysis. Elsevier – Environ Int 37(8):1295–1306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai G, Suzuki T (2009) Evaluating economic value of coastal waterfront of Tokyo Bay, Japan with willingness-to-accept measure. Water Resour Manage 23:633–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zivkovic J (2020) Human settlements and climate change. Climate Action 573–584

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) PLAN fund, Government of Kerala through a research project (Project code No. NP 32, during 2016-2019). The authors are thankful to the Executive Director, CWRDM for providing the necessary facilities, support and encouragement for carrying out this work. Authors are grateful to Prof. Colin Woodroffe, Chair/President, Commission on Coastal Systems – International Geographical Union for his encouragement and to Dr. David R.Green, Editor of the Journal of Coastal Conservation as well as the two anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments and suggestions for improving the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, 673 571, India

    K. Ch. V. Naga Kumar, P. M. Deepak, K. K. Basheer Ahammed, Girish Gopinath & V. P. Dinesan

  2. Department of Geo-Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530 003, India

    Kakani Nageswara Rao

  3. Department of Climate Variability and Aquatic Ecosystems, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, 682 508, India

    Girish Gopinath

Authors
  1. K. Ch. V. Naga Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. M. Deepak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. K. Basheer Ahammed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kakani Nageswara Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Girish Gopinath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V. P. Dinesan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Ch. V. Naga Kumar.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Naga Kumar, K.C.V., Deepak, P.M., Basheer Ahammed, K.K. et al. Coastal vulnerability assessment using Geospatial technologies and a Multi-Criteria Decision Making approach – a case study of Kozhikode District coast, Kerala State, India. J Coast Conserv 26, 16 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-022-00862-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-022-00862-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation