Study of Dynamic Changes Through Geoinformatics Technique: A Case Study of Karwar Coast, West Coast of India

Abstract

Shoreline is one of the geo-indicators of the coastal zone. Coastal zone is subjected to threats due to change in shoreline. Shoreline change leads to modification and causes for damages of properties, infrastructure around the shoreline region. These modifications, changes of land expands too many issues of the environment under the coastal zone. The present study was carried out by employing remote sensing and GIS techniques for the coastal regime of Karwar, India. LANDSAT-8 remote sensing data was integrated with the GPS data collected during the field survey. The satellite data is processed and analyzed using ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 tool and ArcGIS 10.3 tool, respectively. High Water Line (HWL) is considered for the extraction of shoreline. The visual interpretation of satellite imageries is carried out to distinguish the HWL. Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) was evaluated by adopting Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool. Statistical methods such as Weighted Linear Regression (WLR), Linear Regression Rate (LRR) and End Point Rate (EPR) were used to estimate the changes of shoreline. The present study reveals that shorelines of Karwar Coast, Ravindranath Taghore beach experiences an average erosion rate is −4.61 m/year (EPR), −1.49 m/year (LRR), and 0.19 (WLR) and Devbagh beach experiences an average erosion rate is −9.74 m/year (EPR), −7.53 m/year (LRR), and −11.55 m/year (WLR).