Tool For Coastal Zone Management Research Articles

Remote Sensing and Field Survey Data Integration to Investigate on the Evolution of the Coastal Area: The Case Study of Bagnara Calabra (Southern Italy)

Coastal areas worldwide are the result of a weak balance between man and the natural environment. They are exposed to strong anthropogenic pressure and natural hazard events whose intensity has increased in recent decades. In this frame, the satellite and drone monitoring systems as well as field survey are key tools to learn about the factors responsible for coastal changes. Here we describe the formation and dismantling of a fan delta at Sfalassà Stream mouth, Calabria Region (Southern Italy) to shed light on the environmental drivers modelling this coast. The flood event of 2 November 2015 placed approximately 25,000 m3 of coarse sand and gravel sediments in a few hours forming a fan-shaped delta, while three main storm surges, occurring from November 2015 to January 2016, caused its dismantling. Sentinel 2 images and several photographs captured the gradual erosion of fan delta highlighting its complete dismantling in about 3 months. The eroded sediments only partially feed the neighbouring beaches, as they were rapidly funnelled several hundred metres seaward by submarine channels whose heads cut back up at depths <10 m. This analysis showed that observing systems with high spatial and temporal resolution provide the proper knowledge to model the processes that characterise this transitional environment. They are fundamental tools for coastal zone management, which aims to ensure the sustainability of coastal zones by mitigating the effects of erosion and flooding.

Remotely sensed mapping of the intertidal zone: A Sentinel-2 and Google Earth Engine methodology

The coasts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland support a variety of tidal ranges with intertidal zones that can cover large areas and span several shoreline types. There has been an increased recognition of the ecosystem system services derived from the intertidal zone, however, evidence also suggests an overall reduction in intertidal extents since at least 1945. The intertidal zone has proven to be a difficult environment to regularly survey and map at national scales in many countries due to high cost and logistical complexities, so a new approach that is accurate, rapid, cost-effective and easily updated would provide a powerful tool for coastal zone management. An approach to map the intertidal zone by measuring water occurrence frequencies using tidally calibrated satellite imagery (Sentinel-2), and processed within Google Earth Engine (GEE), is proposed here as a complimentary approach to support traditional aerial or ground surveying. Using the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland as a test case, the resulting output, termed Coast X-Ray, compares favourably with the outputs from high-resolution digital elevation model datasets. Coast X-Ray provides an up-to-date insight into the morphology of the intertidal zone across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and can be used by a range of stakeholders to support coastal management and high-level coastal change assessments.

Integrated coastal vulnerability assessment: A methodology for coastal cities management integrating socioeconomic, physical and environmental dimensions - Case study of Região dos Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Coastal zones can be considered inherently vulnerable because of sensitive ecosystems, geomorphological dynamics and complexity, and the clustering of many social, economic, and sometimes conflicting activities. In urban areas where tourism is highly treasured, this vulnerability is even worse. Intense demographic pressure may overload the carrying capacity limits of the sensitive coastal ecosystems. This process also exposes the population living in risky areas to physical vulnerability. This paper aims to present a methodology to integrate the physical, socioeconomic and ecosystem dimensions of coastal vulnerability through a useful tool for coastal zone management. It is propose a matrix that allows correlating the exposition degree and adaptive capacity of vulnerability. Based on this matrix it is possible to plot the integrated coastal vulnerability into a diagram of integrated coastal vulnerability assessment (DICVA). The case study of Região dos Lagos presented in this paper uses this integrated approach of coastal vulnerability. Between 2000 and 2010, the urban population grew significantly on the coast subject to erosion and tidal flood, as well as in flood-prone areas around the lagoons. In many cities, a massive influx of tourists surpasses the number of urban residents causing a deficiency in the water and sewage utilities systems. A resulting problem is the risk of groundwater contamination and lagoons pollution. These impacts can backfire and negatively impact the tourism industry as the environmental quality declines and the risk sensation increases. The proposed, integrated, and updated approach to coastal vulnerability may help to understand the complex effects of the relationship found in the different dimensions involved. Furthermore, this approach contributes to the effective use of the matrix and Diagram of Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Assessment, and may guide coastal management actions.

Determination of risk to users by the spatial and temporal variation of rip currents on the beach of Santiago Bay, Manzanillo, Mexico: Beach hazards and safety strategy as tool for coastal zone management

Beaches are one of the most popular sites used for recreation and spare time by people, being a zone with a constant evolution due to the combined effects of coastal currents, waves and tides. Sometimes, interaction of these processes with local bathymetry causes formation of rip currents (RCs), which are related with accidents to swimmers that even cause drownings. These accidents are strengthened by the lack of information and awareness of RCs, in addition to poor and insufficient beach surveillance. Santiago Bay (SB) (Manzanillo, Mexico), has beaches with great recreational value visited by many tourists every year. Unfortunately SB is not exempt of having potentially dangerous RCs (there is not an official number of accidents reported), and their spatial and temporal variation has not been extensively studied. Due to this lack of data, several research campaigns have been made since 2013 to identify, register and characterize RCs in order to use the information for elaborating new strategies of risk assessment, beach management and assure safety regulations in recreational beaches. In the field survey different data were collected: position, width and RCs intensity, using mobile devices such as a GPS Ashtech Mobile Mapper 10, and two self-made buoys equipped with internal GPS Garmin DC 40. After processing the data, six RCs were constantly identified in the area of study, with intensities ranging from 0 to 1.5 m/s approximately, and widths from 20 to 60 m, and were found to be more recurrent and strong on later spring and summer, as because these period more energetic waves (swell) generated by storms (located as far as the South Pacific) arrive and interact with local bathymetry and tides, favoring the generation and intensification of the RCs. The collected data will be especially useful for the implementation and validation of numerical hydrodynamic models that will be used for spatial and temporal forecasting of potentially dangerous RCs at SB.

GIS and web-based information as innovative tools for coastal zone management

This special issue titled “GIS and Web-Based Information as innovative tools for coastal zone management” of the Journal of Coastal Conservation, Planning and Management (JCCPM) gathers nine of the submitted contributions to the 3 International Conference on Coastal Conservation and Management in the Atlantic and Mediterranean (ICCCM10), held at the Estoril, Portugal, in April 2010. The conference was attended by 800 participants from 24 countries, providing an expanded forum for scientists, engineers, planners and managers to discuss recent and new advances in scientific, technical, and socio-economic understanding of environmental issues related to coastal processes. The articles in this issue stress the use of GIS and online information from web portals as innovative tools for management of the coastal zone. Numerical modeling applications are used to assess water quality and coastal vulnerability. Souto et al. examine the benefits of compiling information on local and regional maritime-fluvial cultural heritage using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and in-depth interviews with local stakeholders, to create a “Patrimonial” Geographic Information System (GIS) accessible by the targeted coastal communities and the relevant political and social institutions. Mossbauer et al. investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of coastal management web portals, using indicators for the visiting quality, the volume and characteristics of the information flow and the associated costs. Regarding water quality, Schernewski et al. propose a valuable tool for spatial analysis and development of bathing water profiles combining experiments on the behaviour of Escherichia coli bacteria with a three-dimensional flow model. Bresciani et al. assess the temporal evolution and spatial variability of water quality in terms of chlorophyll-a focusing on the importance of remote sensing as a valid tool for long-term whole ecosystem studies concerning cyanobacteria blooms. Risk assessment and coastal vulnerability are approached by Janeiro et al. who present an integrated tool to support the decision making process at an oil spill event, focusing on the importance of exchanging information in real time for accurate reliable information systems. Neves et al. developed an integrated system to support decision-making for port and coastal engineering modelling, enabling the automatic generation of risk maps for navigation and Martins et al. model coastal vulnerability in a scenario of urban expansion, stressing the need to improve effective urban planning processes to ensure a correct balance between the geophysical resilience of coastal systems as a strategic asset for the regional and national economy. Performance analysis and validation of numerical simulations of the wave propagation between offshore and inshore were presented by Fortes et al., and Costa and TaveiraPinto analyse the most vulnerable areas of a seafront in terms of current velocities and littoral drift, to confirm the effectiveness of coastal protection structures. We wish to thank the authors and the reviewers for their valuable efforts, and the Editor for his support in producing this special issue. P. Sobral (*) IMAR – Institute for Marine Research, Faculty of Sciences & Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal e-mail: psobral@fct.unl.pt

Participatory tools for coastal zone management: Use of stakeholder analysis and social mapping in Australia

Participatory tools for coastal zone management: Use of stakeholder analysis and social mapping in Australia

Participatory tools for coastal zone management: Use of stakeholder analysis and social mapping in Australia

This paper presents research currently being conducted in Central Queensland, Australia to understand conflicts between coastal zone resource users and the associated sociocultural and political issues surrounding coastal zone management. Conflict occurs between stakeholders in the coastal zone over values, conservation and development trade-offs, access, and resource use rights. Decisions are currently made within a multi-stakeholder framework where there is limited understanding among stakeholders of each groups values and aspirations, and few, mechanisms for negotiation, or to ensure transparency of decisions and feedback on consultation. This paper reports on the contribution of stakeholder analysis and social mapping to conflict management and findings from their application. As it is applied here, stakeholder analysis and social mapping have been successful participatory tools used to document and feed back the values, interests, attitudes and aspirations of stakeholders. Understanding stakeholder conflict is essential in progressing a whole catchment approach to decision-making that secures the cooperation of a diverse range of social groups.

Use of SPOT images as a tool for coastal zone management and monitoring of environmental impacts in the coastal zone

Modern techniques such as remote sensing have been one of the main factors leading toward the achievement of serious plans regarding coastal management. A multitemporal analysis of land use in certain areas of the Colombian Caribbean Coast is described. It mainly focuses on environmental impacts caused by anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation of mangroves due to shrimp farming. Selection of sensitive areas, percentage of destroyed mangroves, possible endangered areas, etc., are some of the results of this analysis. Recommendations for a coastal management plan in the area have also resulted from this analysis. Some other consequences of the deforestation of mangroves in the coastal zone and the construction of shrimp ponds are also analyzed, such as the increase of erosion problems in these areas and water pollution, among others. The increase of erosion in these areas has also changed part of their morphology, which has been studied by the analysis of SPOT images in previous years. A serious concern exists about the future of these areas. For this reason new techniques like satellite images (SPOT) have been applied with good results, leading to more effective control and coastal management in the area. The use of SPOT images to study changes of the land use of the area is a useful technique to determine patterns of human activities and suggest solutions for severe problems in these areas.

Ecological modeling as a tool for coastal zone management in Dokai Bay, Japan

An ecological numerical model has been developed for coastal zone management in Dokai Bay, Japan. The numerical model experiment reproduces the occurrence of red tides and oxygen-deficiency in Dokai Bay during summer. Moreover, the model experiments forecast that when the phosphorus or nitrogen load from land will be cut by 90% or 95%, respectively, red tides and oxygen-deficiency will not occur in Dokai Bay. If the sewage facility is not sufficient to cut the nutrients load to the necessary degree, it is necessary to consider other countermeasures such as cultivating bivalves in order to decrease the nutrients in the bay.

Coastal zone sensitivity mapping and its role in marine environmental management

The successful management of the coastal zone requires reliable and accurate information which must be available in a ‘user-friendly’ format. The most effective instruments for providing such information are resource maps and atlases. The paper discusses the characteristics of a ‘good’ atlas including general design and layout, cartography, symbols and legend, vulnerability index and text. Computer technology as applied to mapping is also briefly discussed. The paper ends with comments on project design and management for the successful production of an atlas which will serve as a versatile tool for coastal zone management.