Quantifying the Interactions of Landuse Allocation and Coastal Zone Systems: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual framework for quantifying the impact of landuse on coastal zone systems from a planning perspective. The framework is validated in a coastal zone stretch in Kerala, South India. Coastal critical landuses are identified through an expert questionnaire survey, and their relationship with the Coastal Zone Health Indicator (CHI) is established using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The framework, which integrates the CHI models and the CHI Landuse Interaction Matrix (CLIM), is used to compute the changes in CHI values based on different landuse options. The proposed framework was validated using real-life landuse allocation cases in Kozhikode, Kerala, India, and the results showed that the framework could better assess and quantify landuse impacts. The framework is adaptable to different coastal contexts, and its capabilities can be enhanced by incorporating more specific algorithms. The methodology is a potential tool for decision-makers to promote better coastal sustainability by adopting appropriate governance policies and landuse planning decisions.