Coastal Settlements Research Articles

The Proyecto Costa Escondida: Historical ecology and the study of past coastal landscapes in the Maya area

Although Maya scholars have referenced coastal settlements in the more general discourse on past landscapes, coastal landscapes have only rarely been the explicit focus of research programs. Coastal peoples, however, faced distinct challenges and opportunities not shared by their inland neighbors. These had material ramifications in terms of the specific decisions coastal inhabitants made over time while trying to take advantage of opportunities and manage risks. The north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is a complex physiographic mosaic that is categorically distinct from the inland expanses of the Maya lowlands. No doubt, the physically delimiting aspects of the north coast’s diverse environment played a major role in shaping more localized concepts of landscape. Here, we employ an historical ecology framework to integrate the interdisciplinary studies conducted by the Proyecto Costa Escondida along the Yucatan’s north coast. Specifically, we focus on the ancient Maya port site of Vista Alegre and what our research has revealed about the dynamic interplay of social and natural processes that shaped life at this ancient Maya port over the past three millennia.

Institusional role in analysis of installation of Tsunami Natural Disaster Detection Equipment using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Cost Benefit Analysis Methods

The problem of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, tends to increase from year to year, mainly due to Indonesia's location in the Pacific Ring of Fire (Ring of Fire) and exacerbated by the lack of tools that can inform early for people if a geological disaster will occur and the lack of early warning for geological disasters installed according to local needs. The tsunami disaster will have a harmful and destructive impact on an area where the community suffers a significant material loss. Therefore, this study aims to determine the priority weight of each region in installing early warning tools to minimize the risk of geological disasters in Indonesia using the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) and Cost-Benefit Analysis methods. This type of research is descriptive exploratory research, using qualitative data analysis methods—classifying regional criteria in Indonesia to determine the installation zone for early detection of natural disasters. The weighting and assessment are carried out on regional factors. Early detection tools for natural disasters are determined using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, which provides subjective calculations based on the hierarchical structure of regional components, namely Dense Settlements, Business Activities, Strategic Buildings Conservation Areas. The subjective calculation is combined with sub-criteria components from the area in coastal settlements, urban settlements, significant business activities, small business activities, important strategic buildings, historical strategic buildings, water conservation areas, and wildlife conservation areas. They support data taken directly through questionnaires and secondary data as comparison data. The data and results of AHP calculations are presented in the form of a parameter table based on the factor component of the regional component. The results of the analysis show that the detectors are divided into four types, namely CBT, Buy, Gauge, and ISDL

New Assessment of Wave Energy in Relation to Geomorphological and Demographic Characteristics on the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico

The electrical grid of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, operates separately from the National Interconnected System, with Baja California connected to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the USA; and Baja California Sur having an isolated, independent network. Based on the need for alternative renewable sources of electricity generation in the region, this work evaluates the wave energy power at specific locations on the Pacific coast of the peninsula, and identifies wave generation sites (WEGS). The WEGS were defined as rocky shore sites associated with a wave energy potential of over 10 kW/m (where the installation of oscillating water columns (OWC) is feasible) and the presence of coastal settlements that are less than 10 km from the shoreline. It was found that 370 km of the Pacific coast of the peninsula have characteristics suitable for the installation of OWC, and up to 1.4 million inhabitants could be benefited by this wave energy harvesting.

A Vision of Sustainable Design Concepts for Upgrading Vulnerable Coastal Areas in Light of Climate Change Impacts: A Case Study from Beirut, Lebanon

Rapid urbanization combined with the effects of climate change has increased the vulnerability of poor urban communities to natural hazards, particularly to informal settlements located in coastal areas. Apart from socio-economic challenges, the effects of climate change threaten the very existence of these settlements. They are particularly vulnerable due to their poor structural quality and lack of adequate infrastructure to mitigate the consequences of any natural event. The article highlights an informal settlement belt, located on the coastline of the southern suburb of the capital Beirut. This area is an example of a complex urban, social, and economic structure. As a result, this research speculates on the possible sustainable design solutions and tested development strategies through urban, architecture, and landscape design proposals, derived from interventions that succeed in facing similar challenges compatible with the studied context. The aim is to advocate for comprehensive consideration and transformation of coastal informal settlements that can be used to encourage neutralizing the obvious challenges of climate change in urban settings. Therefore, planning specifications and quality aspects for future coastal informal settlements are proposed and extracted. The research involves analysis of qualitative data rather than quantitative data, as there is not much definite information available in terms of statistics, such as review of publications and grey literature. The scope of the study ranges from microscale improvement to providing usable and accessible city-wide ecological urban settings and sustainable spaces with new standards for coastal informal settlements as a potential backbone.

Natural and anthropogenic driving forces on Holocene coastline evolution of Lake Van (Eastern Anatolia): A geomorphological approach

Coastal areas of the lakes are quite sensitive to climatic, hydrologic, and anthropogenic changes. These areas are also an indicator that reveals the interaction between natural driving forces and anthropogenic factors. Lake Van coastal region is a dynamic area heavily affected by the natural processes and human activities. The present study focuses on coastline evolution and associated driving forces of the Lake Van. Natural driving forces influencing the changes in the coastline were determined as rock type, water-level fluctuations, wave and current action, tectonics, and fluvial-based processes. The eastern coasts of lake are identified as the most intensive region for the erosion and deposition in terms of natural factors.
 
 Most of the residents prefer to live in the coastal areas of the Lake Van, likely large percentage of the world's population choice. Coastal settlements and their coastal protection structures such as embankments and harbours negatively affect the natural processes such as erosion, sediment transportation, and deposition. Dams and river reclamation channels in rivers indirectly affect the coastal evolution by reducing the sediment input into the lake. These anthropogenic stressors on coastal evolution completely change the natural balance. Understanding of all these environmental factors is an indicator for the existing circumstances of the Lake Van coastal area and provides wider perspective to assess of protection and management of this area.

Climate Change, Voluntary Immobility, and Place-Belongingness: Insights from Togoru, Fiji

Many low-lying communities around the world are increasingly experiencing coastal hazard risks. As such, climate-related relocation has received significant global attention as an adaptation response. However, emerging cases of populations resisting relocation in preference for remaining in place are emerging. This paper provides an account of residents of Togoru, a low-lying coastal settlement on Viti Levu Island, Fiji. Despite facing significant coastal impacts in the form of coastal erosion, tidal inundation, and saltwater intrusion, Togoru residents are opposing plans for relocation; instead opting for in-situ adaptation. We conceptualize place-belongingness to a land and people—through personal, historic and ancestral, relational, cultural, economic, and legal connections—as critical to adaptation and mobility decision-making. We argue that for adaptation strategies to be successful and sustainable, they must acknowledge the values, perspectives, and preferences of local people and account for the tangible and intangible connections to a place.

The Development of Mitigation-Based Infrastructure of Coastal Settlement and Fishery-Economic Resilience

Indonesia is a maritime country where most of the population depends on marine resources, including settlements in Lero. However, geographical conditions are often unsafe. Coastal communities must adapt to the climate, geographical conditions, and prosper with marine resources. So far, the reality is that fishermen's settlements are always identified as slums, undeveloped residents, and difficult to get out of poverty. This research aims to determine the coastal settlements characteristics in Lero, participation level in mitigation, mitigation-based infrastructure development strategies, and fisheries economic resilience. The method used is descriptive qualitative and quantitative. The analysis used includes: spatial, scoring, and IPA analyses. The research results show that the residents of Lero Village must be adaptive to disasters because of their geographical location. Community participation in disaster mitigation is strongly influenced by external factors. Meanwhile, internal factors have no effect. Regarding infrastructure development, there are four priority scale aspects that require handling, namely improving pier facilities, ship repairing facilities for fishermen, management of residential waste systems and waste management of Lero settlements. The development of Lero as a coastal tourism village must be supported by the development of local potential-based community skills to improve the socio-economic sustainability of the surrounding population.

Climatic disasters within a flood-prone coastal slum in Lagos: coping capacities and adaptation prospects

PurposeClimate impacts are a significant challenge in slums and informal settlements, most of which are located along the coast. This article aims to show coping strategies and flood adaptation opportunities through the case study of a coastal slum in Lagos, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach is used in Idi-Araba settlement, Oworonshoki, Lagos – the case study area. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected residents and a survey (sample size = 300 residents). A town hall meeting was convened to disseminate the findings and gather feedback from the community.FindingsBeing an informally developed settlement, flooding affects the poor-quality buildings – a situation made worse by absence of infrastructure and services. Coping with flooding involves structural strategies (raising building’s foundation, re-roofing, sand-filling the surrounding, etc.), failed attempt through green infrastructure, nonstructural measures through dietary pattern, dressing, etc. These measures emanate from self-help and community efforts, attesting to notable social capital in the study area. They are minimally effective and limited, which highlights adaptation gaps and opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThis study calls for transformative adaptation, beyond the current coping and maladaptation. It argues that local strategies need to meet with innovative substantive external initiatives from the state and third sector.Originality/valueThis study considers the single case of a coastal settlement in Lagos. This focus allowed detailed examination within a representative settlement, much unlike city-wide, cross-settlement considerations in many other studies. It provides additional empirical evidence on limitations of self-help flood coping measures and adaptation prospects in the often overlooked low-income, informal urban sector.

Seascape genomics identify adaptive barriers correlated to tidal amplitude in the shore crab Carcinus maenas.

Most marine invertebrates disperse during a planktonic larval stage that may drift for weeks with ocean currents. A challenge for larvae of coastal species is to return to coastal nursery habitats. Shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.) larvae are known to show tidal rhythmicity in vertical migration in tidal areas and circadian rhythmicity in microtidal areas, which seems to increase successful coastal settlement. We studied genome‐wide differentiation based on 24,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 12 native populations of shore crab sampled from a large tidal amplitude gradient from macrotidal (~8 m) to microtidal (~0.2 m). Dispersal and recruitment success of larvae was assessed with a Lagrangian biophysical model, which showed a strong effect of larval behaviour on long‐term connectivity, and dispersal barriers that partly coincided with different tidal environments. The genetic population structure showed a subdivision of the samples into three clusters, which represent micro‐, meso‐ and macrotidal areas. The genetic differentiation was mostly driven by 0.5% outlier loci, which showed strong allelic clines located at the limits between the three tidal areas. Demographic modelling suggested that the two genetic barriers have different origins. Differential gene expression of two clock genes (cyc and pdp1) further highlighted phenotypic differences among genetic clusters that are potentially linked to the differences in larval behaviour. Taken together, our seascape genomic study suggests that tidal regime acts as a strong selection force on shore crab population structure, consistent with larval behaviour affecting dispersal and recruitment success.

Coastal paleolandscapes of far southern Peru: Implications for Late Pleistocene human settlement

Archaeological evidence indicates that initial coastal settlement of western South America took place near the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when sea level was between 40 and 100 m lower than today. Beginning around 15,000 cal BP, and for roughly the next 8,000 years, sea levels rose, eventually covering these formerly exposed and potentially human-occupied landscapes. We use bathymetric data and the reconstructed global mean sea level curve from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene to describe the paleolandscapes associated with the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene coastal occupations at five sites located in far southern Peru. We constructed cross-sections perpendicular to the modern shoreline at the various locales to determine the approximate extent of the exposed land surface and the proximity of the communities at the sites of Quebrada de los Burros, Quebrada Tacahuay, the Ring Site, Kilometer 4 (K4), and Quebrada Miraflores to the ocean and various littoral habitats. Our analysis identifies previously undocumented littoral habitats consisting of large, shallow-water bays, significant rocky headlands, and beach habitats. We propose several methods of future research to identify potentially submerged sites and the marine paleolandscape of the study region. Knowing the paleolandscapes contributes to refining Pacific coast migration and settlement models for South America.

Spatial and temporal dynamics and potential pathogenicity of fecal coliforms in coastal shallow groundwater wells.

Access to water through shallow groundwater wells is a common practice in coastal settlements. This, coupled with a lack of planning for wastewater disposal promotes fecal contamination of groundwater and poses a threat to human health. Here, the spatial and temporal dynamics of groundwater fecal contamination was evaluated during summer and winter (2013 and 2014) in a coastal protected area having a high touristic relevance (Cabo Polonio, Uruguay). Fecal coliforms (FC) abundance in groundwater was significantly higher during summer, related to an influx of ~ 1000 tourists per day. A significant spatial autocorrelation was found in 2014, when the abundance of FC in a well was influenced by its three nearest wells (Moran and Geary tests). The applied statistical models (mixed models) indicated that total phosphorus and organic matter were the variables significantly explaining FC abundance. The risk for human health was estimated using groundwater-extracted DNA and qPCR of genes encoding for E. coli virulence factors (stx1, stx2, and eae). Potential Shiga toxin-producing enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic pathotypes were detected, even at FC abundances ≤ 1CFU (100mL-1). Moreover, we found that contaminated groundwater reached the beach, being the presence of FC in sand detected even in winter and showing its highest frequency nearby groundwater wells consistently having high FC abundance (hot spots). Altogether, the results show that fecal contamination of shallow groundwater in Cabo Polonio involves a risk for human health that intensifies during summer (associated to a significant increase of tourists). This contamination also impacts the beach, where FC can remain through the whole year.

Siri' na pacce: The Local Wisdom of Coastal Community Settlement Patterns and Its Existence amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The handling of some issues due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus has been carried out in various cities, including the coastal city of Makassar. Efforts to break the chain of spread of the virus have been carried out starting from the recommendation to comply with health protocols to the establishment of regulations that limit people's daily movement. On the other hand, some local wisdom rooted in the lives of coastal residents also experienced a shift in meaning during this pandemic. This study aims to examine the meaning of local wisdom siri' na pacce in people's lives in coastal settlements, its manifestation in life during the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts that can be made as disaster mitigations. Methods of data collection were done by observation, interviews and questionnaires. The data collected was then analyzed by spatial analysis and description. This study found that the siri' value was influenced by bad stigma towards people with COVID-19 so that the meaning shifted in a negative direction. The value of pacce still has a positive form. It can be seen from community cooperation to help patients who are in self-isolation. At the end of the study, recommendations for pandemic disaster mitigation were formulated in coastal settlements, such as determining the location of temporary shelters and evacuation points.

The impact of a rise in the Baikal level on engineering structures of coastal settlements

The impact of a rise in the Baikal level on engineering structures of coastal settlements

Daily life of the population of black sea coastal settlements amid conditions of Crimean war (1853-1856)

Daily life of the population of black sea coastal settlements amid conditions of Crimean war (1853-1856)

Predicting cyclone landfall using mutual information and dilated recurrent neural network

Abstract Cyclones are a severe storm system with a defined center, occurring in the tropical regions. Upon landfall, it causes massive damage to both lives and the economy. With the increase in frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones occurring over the years and growing coastal settlements, the study of cyclone landfall remains of paramount importance for disaster control and mitigation. Cyclones experience rapid changes, with various environmental factors modulating the trajectory and intensity. Thus predicting cyclone landfall demands a highly precise technique coupled with knowledge of environmental parameters. With the complexity and nonlinearity of the cyclone track data, determining parameters conducive for the landfall prediction of a cyclone remains crucial for precision and knowledge of the storm system. While numerous methods have been employed for detecting causal interactions among weather systems like Granger Causality and Transfer Entropy, each comes with its limitation and computational overhead. In this work, we investigate the where and when of a cyclone landfall by studying the influencing factors regulating the location and time of a cyclone landfall over the North Indian Ocean with mutual information (MI). We utilize dilated recurrent neural network with gated recurrent unit cells coupled with feature selection via MI criterion for predicting the cyclone landfall location and intensity between 12 and 36 training hours. The model efficacy is validated further on the landfall data of a recent devastating storm—Fani.

Houses Like Water: Observations and Reflections on House Types of Kat O Fishing Village in Hong Kong

<i>Liquid Homes: Building, Living and Other Stories of Hong Kong Fishing Villages</i> is a research, curatorial, and design collaboration that explores the culture of Tanka people and their fluid state of living and building, presenting stories from a long overdue reading of the other Hong Kong. This essay, as an ongoing work, intends to reflect on our recent observations of the houses in Kat O fishing village by documenting the self-built additions in relation to the surrounding topography and water environment. These findings evoke an understanding of houses as &ldquor;amphibious creatures&rdquor; of hybrid qualities riding on the seams between land and water, and denote the notion of homes as &ldquor;fluid entities&rdquor;—physical yet elusive, subject to the floating identity of the community. The research intends to offer an ethnographic reading of Hong Kong coastal settlements and their building typologies, rethink building materialities by their temporal qualities and beyond the physical matter, and imagine a renewed reading on the dialectical relation between the built and the natural, and propose new ways to design sustainable architecture through the landscape.

Estimating the Influence of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change on Coastal Defences in Western Taiwan

Situated in the Western Pacific Ocean, Taiwan is frequently affected by powerful typhoons. The present research evaluates the storm surges that could take place along the western coastline of Taiwan, and the design water level that will likely be required by coastal structures in the course of the 21st century to protect coastal settlements. To do so, the intensity of a given case study typhoon (Soudelor, which caused great damage to Taiwan in 2015) that could affect the target case study area (Yunlin county) was modified by taking into account climate change and sea level rise (SLR), by changing the sea surface temperature (SST), atmospheric air temperature (AAT), and relative humidity (RH) in an ensemble of 14 GCMs in CMIP5 according to RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, targeting the year 2041~2060 and 2081~2100 time horizons. The Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW) and the Unstructured Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) were utilized to simulate the typhoons and storm surges. The hindcasting of the historical typhoon showed good agreement with the observed data provided by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) in Taiwan, and the simulations under future climate change scenarios forecasted an increase in typhoon intensity, especially the maximum wind speed. However, the storm surge simulations indicated a limited increase in storm surge height, and even a decrease when considering also SLR. Nevertheless, the estimated maximum water level, including both effect of SLR and future storm surge height, can increase up to 3.53 m and 3.84 m relative to mean sea level at the tidal stations in Yunlin and Chiayi County, respectively. The results showed that storm surges in the study area, characterized by a shallow bathymetry with many sandbars and land reclamation projects, are highly influenced by the change in water depth due to SLR and tidal changes, and the existence of the Central Mountain Range, which can greatly affect the accuracy of the simulated typhoon wind fields.

Ordu ili kentsel kıyı yerleşim yerlerinden denize verilen evsel atık su deşarjlarının araştırılması

In this study, the compliance of domestic wastewater discharges to the sea from the urban coastal settlements of Ordu Province with the criteria specified in the regulations was investigated. For this purpose, in 2018, samples were taken from the wastewater inlet and wastewater outlet at 8 different domestic wastewater treatment stations located in urban coastal settlements, twice a month, every month 2018. BOD5 (Biological Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TP (Total Phosphorus), TN (Total Nitrogen), TSS (Suspended Solids), and pH analysis were performed in the wastewater samp-les. In the evaluation of the data obtained, the parameters and upper limit values are given in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulation and in the Water Pollution Control Regulation were taken as a basis. In the research, it was determined that they were able to function smoothly in Altınordu-Durugöl, Altınordu-Kumbaşı, Gülyalı, Ünye-Doğu and Ünye-Batı treatment stations. At the domestic wastewater treatment stations in Fatsa District, wastewater is discharged into the sea after physical pretreatment. It has been determined that there is no significant difference between the wastewater inlet and wastewater outlet parameter values at the treatment stations in this district. This shows that domestic wastewater is discharged into the sea without being treated sufficiently at the treatment stations in Fatsa District. In Persembe District, domestic wastewater is directly discharged into the receiving environment. As a result, wastewater treatment plants with the capacity and characteristics to meet the needs should be established and put into operation in the districts of Perşembe and Fatsa. In addition, it is beneficial to establish pre-treatment facilities in the indust-rial zones in order to prevent the wastewater from small and large industrial sites operating in the province of Ordu and Organized Industrial Zones from mixing with domestic wastewater. Domestic wastewater and stormwater networks operating in the adjacent system throughout the province of Ordu should be converted into separate network lines.

Analisis Tipologi dan Komposisi Penduduk Kampung Tua Tanjung Riau Sekupang

Batam City is very famous for its coastal settlement areas. One of them is Tanjung Riau. Tanjung Riau is the name of a sub-district located in Sekupang sub-district, Batam City, Riau Islands, Indonesia. The area of this kelurahan is 23.90 km², with a population in 2020 of 23,987 people and a density of 1,004 people / km². This old village is an area that is very useful as a visit destination if the systems and facilities are well managed.. Therefore, this research is based on the typology of buildings and population composition and the problems found will be sought so that they can provide solutions to problems in the research.

Fractal Characteristic Evolution of Coastal Settlement Land Use: A Case of Xiamen, China

Coastal settlements in urban areas show certain degrees of spatial complexity. Understanding the evolution law of fractal settlements is practically important for marine engineering and urban planning. In this paper, we investigate the fractal evolution of coastal settlement land use based on fractal theory. The fractal dimensions of the land uses for three typically coastal settlements in Xiamen city, China, are obtained to quantify their spatial complexity. The results reveal the fractal characteristics and regional differences of the coastal settlements. Furthermore, nonlinear modeling is applied to describe the fractal dimension evolution of the coastal settlement land uses from 2000 to 2018. Three settlements in rapid urbanization show different nonlinear evolution equations of the fractal dimension due to their different land uses. This study might provide a theoretical basis for understanding the fractal characteristic evolution of coastal settlements in urban areas and show its potential application in urban geography.