Abstract
Both natural and anthropogenic coastal landforms characterize Penang Island. As years have passed it is a challenge to differentiate the genuineness of landmasses created by natural geological formations or by coastal reclamation projects. An account is given of the environmental impact of solid wastes used for reclaiming land in coastal areas of Penang and of the impact of a major sewage outfall in the western channel. Leaching of heavy metals was shown to be one of the main sources of contamination from solid wastes. This paper presents eight lines of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and sediment analysis to identify the anthropogenic interventions that shaped the urban landscape of Penang Island by excavations, filling, and embankment construction along the coastline and differentiate it from the natural one. The surveys were implemented in two locations, the Batu Ferringhi area, representing the natural coastline, and Persiaran Bayan Indah (the Queensbay Mall area), representing the anthropogenic coastal landform. The apparent depth of penetration that was achieved using a 250-MHz antenna is limited (less than 5 m). The results show between natural and anthropogenic sediment recorded different radar facies. In complement mode, mean grain size distribution, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis graphics of sediment samples from both sites correspond with the GPR data. This technique can likely be applied to the developing coast, where natural and anthropogenic coastal landform data is incomplete, considering future coastline development.
Highlights
Penang is one of the most rapidly developing states in Malaysia [1]
The land shortage is most popularly overcome by running coastal reclamation projects
As the urban area increased from 37.8 km2 (12.6%) in 1980 become 112 3kmof 219 (37.3%) within 35 years, land reclamation has allowed the island to develop more buildings, infrastructures and provided additional land along coastlines that meet the high demand for flat areas in Penang island
Summary
An island represents about 300 km, more than half of which has a fairly rugged topography [2]. Land availability has become a severe issue in Penang where the limited flat lowland areas of the island have already been developed for industry, which is about to exhaust the available space [3]. The population growth of Penang Island demands more space for infrastructure. Since 1980, Penang’s population has increased from 776,124 to 1,698,100 people in 2015 [4]. Land reclamation in Penang started on a massive scale in the 1980s in response to landmass needs. The establishment of the Bayan Lepas Free industrial zone (started in 1972) made Penang the home for various multinational companies, leading to greater urbanization and greater pressure on the land [7]. Flat-lowland is a scarce resource in Penang because Penang largely has a steep topography, and the flat-lowland areas are mostly already
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