Geomorphic Regionalization of Coastal Zone Using Geospatial Technology
The world coastal environment is made of diversified landforms and are also potentially vulnerable to climate variability, delta sinking, extreme events and anthropogenic interferences. Sustainable management of coastal resources and transforming quality ecosystem services to future generation are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IJEGEO
2016-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics |
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| Online Access: | http://dergipark.gov.tr/download/article-file/291779 |
| Summary: | The world coastal environment is made of diversified landforms and are also potentially vulnerable to climate
variability, delta sinking, extreme events and anthropogenic interferences. Sustainable management of coastal
resources and transforming quality ecosystem services to future generation are the goals of Integrated Coastal
Zone Management (ICZM). Geographical homogenous unit are the basic implementation locus and back bone
of these kinds of integrated management strategy and activities. However, coastal zone management projects in
developing world using use arbitrary land-ward and sea-ward boundaries from physical reference as unit of
management. The oversimplified fixed distance approaches are not able to map the spatial and temporal
changes in coastal systems. The spatio-temporal variations of coastal systems are configured in geomorphic
landforms and further that work on interaction between natural forces and anthropogenic inputs. The present
research work is an attempt to present a simplified method of regionalization geomorphic landforms using
geospatial platforms for delineating Orissa coast into smaller homogenous geographic unit as reference point
for future management. Geomorphic landforms are reconstructed using Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus
(ETM+) imagery, Survey of India topomaps, field survey and Digital Elevation Model data at geographic
information system (GIS) plat form. Seventy geomorphic features covering an area of 5033.64 km2 were
identified and further, regionalized into five homogenous geographic units. The need of time is to recognize
unsustainable coastal systems in these homogenous geographic units by fine tuning development parameters
and also same time allowing coastal systems to adapt naturally to any kind of variability. Although, the
methodology applied to Orissa for delineation homogenous geographic area but it can be replicated to any
coast in world. |
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| ISSN: | 2148-9173 2148-9173 |