Abstract
ABSTRACT Living shoreline suitability assessments guide decisions on shoreline armoring, ensuring the most ecologically balanced shoreline protection methods are selected. This study compares two spatial analysis tools—Weighted Sum (WS) and Suitability Modeler (SM) in ArcGIS Pro 3.1.0—to evaluate their effectiveness in prioritizing natural and hybrid shoreline solutions based on thirteen physical and ecological variables. Data were standardized into 10mx10m raster, with weights assigned using the Living Shoreline Feasibility Model (LSFM). Shoreline segments were classified into three categories: Suitable for living shorelines (LS), hybrid solutions (HS), or not suitable for living shorelines (NLS). Four output maps (weighted/unweighted) were evaluated for accuracy, precision, user-friendliness, flexibility, efficiency, and agreement with LSFM. WS with weight achieved the highest agreement (24.8% Kappa Index), classification accuracy of 78%, 77%, and 77% with improved precision of 0%, 66%, and 85% across categories. WS exhibited better alignment with LSFM results, while SM offered ease of use, data integration, and efficiency advantages. Six shoreline segments with high disagreement between tools were reanalyzed using the LSFM, validating the WS model’s higher accuracy and precision. The findings highlight key methodological considerations in GIS-based shoreline suitability modeling, emphasizing that tool selection should align with project goals, data availability, and user expertise.
Published Version
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