Estimation of Long and Short Term Shoreline Changes Along Andhra Pradesh Coast Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract

Identifying shoreline changes and its variability is a fundamental task for various coastal studies undertaken by coastal scientists, engineers and coastal managers. ICMAM-PD has implemented a national project for monitoring the shoreline changes for entire Indian coast using satellite imageries to maintain a long-term database in GIS environment. Inthis paper an attempt has been made to implement a “shoreline proxy” formonitoringthe shoreline changesalong Andhra Pradesh coastfor last22years (1990-2012). Multi-resolution satellite data such as Landsat TM, Landsat ETM+, IRS-P5 (Cartosat-1) and IRS-P6 (LISS-III & LISS-IV) were used to assess theshort and long-term shoreline changes. The Standard Operating Protocolswerefollowed for image rectification, shoreline extractionand the map accuracy as per NNRMS standard. Thechanges were classified as stable, erosion(low, medium and high) and accretion(low, medium and high). 974km long Andhra coast was divided into 89 segments identical to Survey of India toposheets of 1:25000 scale. The analysis revealed that 275km long shoreline was undererosion, 417km has shown accretion and 153km coastline is under stable condition. Region like Korakupalaiyam, Pallikuppam, Toppalappalaiyam, Virrasettitannippandal, Vatturupallipalem (above the Upputeru River), Ramulapatisangam, Binginipalle, Rayaduruvu, Peddaboyanapalem, Ullapalem, Uppadaetc are identified as high erosion prone areas. However, the regions like Bangarapalem, Yerraipetta, Pedhatheenarla, Kothachodupallipetta, Konapapapetta, and northern Kakinada were seen with low to moderate erosion. Pattapupalem, Pallepalem, Kesavapalem, Gundamala regions were noticed with moderate accretion. Southern coast i.e. Nellore to Sriharikotta is mostly stable or accreting nature. Further in northern parts, Ichchapuram to Beemunipatanam coast does not depict any significant change as it is covered with sand dunes and sandy beach.