Impact of coastal structure on shorelines along the southeast and southwest coasts of india

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the site-specific impact of coastal structures on the stability of the shoreline. For this study, the shoreline data were collected with higher-order accuracy along a few vulnerable stretches of the coast in the vicinity of hard structures such as Seawalls, Groyne, Breakwater, and Training walls along the southeast and southwest coasts of India. All the field collected shoreline data were analysed with statistical measures using DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) tool of ArcGIS software. The presence of shore connected coastal structures dictates the sedimentation process in its purlieu. The observed average rate of erosion and accretion in the adjoining coastlines are −5.7 m/yr and +4.92 m/yr, respectively. The field measurements from the present study would provide an effective base for the planning and implementation of coastal structures near the studied area, as well as to adopt a better methodology for coastal impact assessment. Most of the well-planned and executed hard engineering structures have yielded desirable results and benefit for the local coastal communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Hard engineering structures
• shoreline changes
• seasonal change impact
• coastal development
• coastal management

Acknowledgement

The study was supported by the central water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Jal Sakthi, Dept. of Water Resources, RD & GR, Government of India. A part of the research study is sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the “SPLICE - Climate Change” Program with the reference number DST/CCP/CoE/141/2018(C). The authors thank Dr J. Sriganesh, M. Dhananjayan, A. Pradeep, S. Pavan Kumar and S. Tharaniraja, project staff of the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras for their valuable support in executing the field measurements presented in this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)

Author contributions

The first author, Vallam Sundar, has worked on formal data analysis, supervision, writing, and review, while the co-author, Sannasi Annamalaisamy Sannasiraj, has contributed to the methodology of data collection and review. Kantharaj Murali coordinated the installation of equipment in the field. The first three authors were directly involved in the erection of all equipment, data collection, and analysis, while Vasanthakumar was involved in analyzing the data and interpreting of results.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Water Resources and Department of Science and Technology; Grant No: BED-12014/8/CMIS/2015/246-248, Govt of India. In addition, a part of this work is supported by the Department of Science & Technology, India Grant No. DST/CCP/CoE/141/2018C under SPLICE – Climate Change Program. The financial support extended is gratefully acknowledged.