SHORELINE CHANGE ANALYSIS ALONG

KANNUR COAST USING REMOTE SENSING

AND GIS TECHNIQUES
REPORT OF SEMINAR

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

In

CIVIL ENGINEERING
By

G ESHITHA (211CV220)

Under the guidance of

Dr. Dwarakish G S

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCE AND OCEAN ENGINEERING

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KARNATAKA

SURATHKAL, MANGALORE-575025

MARCH 2024
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this report entitled SHORELINE CHANGE ANALYSIS

ALONG KANNUR COAST USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS
TECHNIQUES being submitted by G ESHITHA (211CV220) is accepted as
the record of work carried out by her as the part of SEMINAR (CV390) in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of
Technology in Civil Engineering of the Department of Civil Engineering,
National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangaluru.

Dr. Dwarakish G S Dr.Varija K

Professor Professor and Head
Department of WROE Department of WROE
National Institute of Technology National Institute of Technology
Karnataka, Surathkal Karnataka,Surathkal

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr B Ravi, Director National Institute of

Technology Karnataka, Surathkal for giving us the opportunity to undertake this
Seminar and for their noble patronage. I express my deepest sense of gratitude to Dr
Varija K, Professor and Head of Department of Water Resource and Ocean
Engineering for extending all necessary support to complete the work being reported
in this report.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr Sreekumar M, for all the help extended in
completing this seminar. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and
profound thanks to our guide Dr Dwarakish GS Professor, Department of Water
Resource and Ocean Engineering for his advice, guidance and reference material
provided during the preparation of the report. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the
faculty of the Department of Water Resource and Ocean Engineering who has
provided me with this opportunity.

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 ​ ABSTRACT

Coastal regions are among the most dynamic and vulnerable environments globally,
experiencing continuous changes influenced by natural processes and human
activities. The Kannur coast, situated along the southwestern coast of India,
exemplifies such dynamicity, facing challenges of erosion, accretion, and
anthropogenic interventions. This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of
shoreline changes along the Kannur coast utilizing advanced Remote Sensing (RS)
and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. High-resolution satellite
imagery spanning several years is processed and analyzed to delineate shoreline
positions and quantify spatial and temporal variations.
The study employs various RS and GIS tools to detect erosional and accretional
trends, identify hotspots of change, and assess the magnitude and rates of coastal
evolution. Additionally, factors influencing shoreline dynamics, including coastal
geomorphology, wave patterns, sediment transport, land use changes, and human
interventions, are thoroughly examined. The integration of multi-temporal RS data
with GIS-based spatial analysis facilitates a detailed understanding of coastal
processes and their interactions, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable
coastal management.
The findings of this study contribute to the knowledge base on coastal dynamics,
providing valuable insights for policymakers, coastal planners, and stakeholders to
develop effective strategies for coastal zone management, hazard mitigation, and
adaptation to climate change impacts. The research underscores the significance of
employing RS and GIS technologies for comprehensive shoreline change analysis and
emphasizes the imperative of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to address the
complex challenges facing coastal environments.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
LIST OF FIGURES 5
1. INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 GENERAL 6
1.2 HISTORY 6
1.3 OBJECTIVES 7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW 8
2.1 GENERAL 8
2.2 GLOSSARY OF THE COASTAL ZONE 8
2.3 CAUSES FOR SHORELINE CHANGE 9
2.4 USE OF REMOTE SENSING 11
3. STUDY AREA 12
4. REFERENCES 14

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 ​ LIST OF FIGURES

Fig.1 Erosion-stable-Accretion Status of Kerala Coast 7

Fig.2 Kannur District Map 13

Fig.3 Map Showing Study Sites 13

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 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General

​ oastal regions are one of the important parts of the earth surface, where various changes
C
always occur. Erosion and Accretion are the common changes that would happen on the
coastal regions caused either by natural force or Manmade. Shoreline is an imaginary line
that coincides with the interface of water and land. Shoreline is continuous change with time
because accretion and erosion of sediments occurs due to the tidal patterns. This whole
process is known as shoreline change.
​Wind, waves, currents are the natural driving forces that easily move through the
unconsolidated sand and soil in the coastal area, resulting in rapid changes in the position of
the shoreline. The coastal system has been also affected by the several aquaculture activities
like ports, industries, aquaculture farming and other human interventions in the form of
coastal defense. The rising sea levels and global warming are very much focused topics for
research work, because these problems may cause many natural disasters. In addition to that,
due to the greenhouse effect the icebergs in polar regions melt and lead to sea level rise which
consequently results in reduction of land. So, studying the shoreline changes is important for
protecting the environment and coastal area.
​Geospatial technologies are the most efficient way to produce the coastline maps and to
estimate the rate of changes of it. Observations made repeatedly on the shoreline database,
reveals the detailed shoreline changes over a period of time. A shoreline movement can occur
due to boost or drop in its sediments in a short span of time. For visualization and analyzing
the coastal zone information, the geoinformatics approach could provide better accuracy and
time savings for its overall performance. Thus, RS and GIS are the most adopted methods for
coastline management and monitoring. This study assesses the shoreline changes in part of
Kannur district.

1.2 History
The coastal state of Kerala is in the southern end of Indian peninsula, with its low lying
coastal plain fringing into the Lakshadweep Sea. Nine coastal districts from Kasaragod in the
north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south attribute the coast belt of the state. The coastal
length is measured to be approximately 592 km from 2016 satellite imagery. Shoreline
change analysis carried out for a span of 26 years (1990-2016) indicates that 45% of the coast
is eroding, 34% is stable and 21% is accreting. Further, it may be seen fromTable 13, that the
coasts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram, Ernakulam and Kollam are dominated by both
erosion and stable condition with a few pockets of accretion. The only district showing
accretion trend is Thrissur, about 50% of its length shows accretion. As far as
Thiruvananthapuram is concerned erosion, accretion and stable conditions are observed in
equal amounts.

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​
​Figure 1:Erosion-Stable-Accretion Status of Kerala Coast

1.3 Objectives

The Objectives of the Study include: -

1. To quantify and characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of shoreline evolution over a

defined period.
2. To identify and assess the driving forces behind shoreline changes, including natural
processes and human activities.
3. To validate the accuracy and reliability of Remote Sensing and GIS methodologies in
monitoring coastal changes.
4. To provide valuable insights for coastal management strategies aimed at mitigating
erosion, enhancing coastal resilience, and preserving ecosystem integrity.
5. To contribute new knowledge to the field of coastal geomorphology and serve as a
foundation for further research in coastal zone management and environmental planning.

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 ​2. LITERATURE REVIEW

​2.1 General

​Shorelines can be defined as the interface between land and water where a large number of
the world’s population lives. They experience continuous changes resulting from a complex
interaction of natural and anthropogenic processes.The natural process comprises increased
sea level, geo-tectonic change, natural calamities, coastal inundation, erosion-accretion of
shore, and channel shifting along with many human-induced impacts. Therefore, coastal
modification by natural activities has emerged as a matter of concern worldwide and its
management demands information about shoreline and its changes.

​2.2 Glossary of the Coastal Zone

​Shoreline: The boundary between land and water, which may vary due to tides, waves, and
other coastal processes.
​Erosion: The process of wearing away land by natural forces such as waves, currents, and
wind, leading to the retreat of the shoreline.
​Accretion: The process of sediment deposition, resulting in the expansion or progradation of
the shoreline.
​Littoral Zone: The nearshore area influenced by wave action, including the intertidal zone
and nearshore bathymetry, where significant sediment transport and coastal processes occur.
​Geographic Information System (GIS): A system designed to capture, store, analyze, and
present spatial data, commonly used in coastal zone management and shoreline change
analysis to visualize and interpret spatial patterns and trends.
​Breakwater: A protective structure built offshore or along the shoreline to dissipate wave
energy and reduce erosion by creating calmer water conditions in the lee of the structure.
​Seawall: A vertical or sloping structure constructed along the shoreline to prevent erosion and
flooding by deflecting wave energy and providing a barrier against storm surges.
​Groin Field: A series of groins constructed perpendicular to the shoreline to trap sediment
and mitigate beach erosion by interrupting longshore drift.
​Waves:Waves are rhythmic disturbances that propagate through a medium, typically caused
by the transfer of energy from wind blowing over the surface of water. In coastal and marine

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 environments, waves play a crucial role in shaping shorelines, transporting sediment, and
influencing coastal processes.
​Tides:Tides refer to the periodic rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational forces
exerted by the moon and sun on Earth's oceans.
​Beach:A beach is a landform consisting of loose sediment such as sand, gravel, or pebbles,
deposited by waves and tides along the shoreline.
​Storms:Storms are meteorological phenomena characterized by extreme weather conditions
such as strong winds, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and turbulent seas.
​Wind:Wind is the horizontal movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric pressure.
Along coastlines and over bodies of water, wind plays a critical role in driving ocean
currents, generating waves, and influencing weather patterns.
​Rip Current: A narrow, fast-moving channel of water flowing seaward from the shoreline,
formed by converging wave patterns and posing a hazard to swimmers and surfers.
​
​
​2.3 Causes for Shoreline Change
​Natural Causes:
​1. Action of Waves: Waves are generated by offshore and nearshore winds, which blow over
the sea surface and transfer their energy to the water surface. As waves move towards the
shore, waves break, and the turbulent energy is released to the water column. This energy
stirs up and moves the sediments deposited on the seabed.
​2. Winds: Wind acts not just as a generator of waves, but also aids in the landward
movement of dunes (Aeolian erosion).
​3. Tides: Tides rise and fall in water elevation due to the attraction of water masses by the
moon and the sun. During high tides, the energy of the breaking waves is released higher on
the foreshore.
​4. Nearshore currents: Sediments scoured from the seabed are transported away from their
original location by currents. The transport of (coarse) sediments defines the boundary of
coastal sediment cells, i.e. relatively self-contained systems within which (coarse) sediments
stay. Currents are generated by winds, tides (ebb and flood currents), wave breaking at an
oblique angle with the shore (longshore currents), and the backwash of waves on the
foreshore (rip currents). All these currents contribute to shoreline changes.

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​5. Storms: Storms generate storm surges and high energy waves. Combined with high tides,
storms may result in catastrophic damages. Besides damages to coastal infrastructure, storms
cause beaches and dunes to retreat tens of meters in a few hours.
​6. Sea Level Rise: Sea level has risen about 40 cm in the past century and is projected to rise
another 60 cm in the next century. Sea level has risen nearly 110 meters since the last ice age.
Due to global warming, the average rise of sea level is of the order of 1.5 to 10 mm per year.
It has been observed that sea level rise of 1 mm per year could cause an inundation of the
order of about 0.5 m per year (IPCC report).

Anthropogenic Causes:

Human influence, particularly urbanization and economic activities, in the coastal zone has
turned coastal erosion into a problem of growing intensity. Anthropological effects that
trigger shoreline changes are: construction of coastal structures, mining of beach sand,
offshore dredging and damming of rivers. Human intervention can alter the natural processes
through the following actions:

● Dredging of tidal entrances and navigational channels

● Construction of harbors and coastal structures such as groins and jetties
● River water regulation works such as damming
● Hardening of shorelines with seawalls
● Beach nourishment
● Destruction of mangroves and other natural buffers
● Beach sand mining

​
​

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​2.4 Use of Remote Sensing

​Remote Sensing (RS) techniques have revolutionized the way we study and monitor coastal
environments, offering valuable insights into shoreline dynamics, land cover changes, and
coastal processes. In the context of the shoreline change analysis of Kannur district coast,
RS plays a pivotal role in providing spatially explicit information and facilitating a
comprehensive understanding of coastal evolution over time.

​Data Acquisition: RS enables the acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery covering

large spatial extents, allowing for the systematic monitoring of coastal areas. Sensors
onboard satellites capture multispectral and hyperspectral data, which can be utilized to
delineate shoreline positions, detect land cover changes, and assess coastal geomorphology.

​Shoreline Mapping: One of the primary applications of RS in coastal studies is shoreline

mapping. Through image processing techniques, such as image classification and change
detection algorithms, RS facilitates the extraction of accurate shoreline positions from
satellite imagery acquired at different time intervals. This enables the quantification of
erosion, accretion, and net shoreline change rates along the Kannur coast.

​Coastal Habitat Mapping: RS also aids in mapping coastal habitats, including beaches,
dunes, mangroves, and estuarine ecosystems. By analyzing spectral signatures and spatial
patterns in satellite imagery, RS techniques enable the delineation and monitoring of coastal
habitats, which are critical for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

​Detection of Coastal Hazards: RS provides valuable tools for detecting and monitoring
coastal hazards such as coastal erosion, storm surges, and sea-level rise. By analyzing
changes in shoreline position, coastal topography, and land cover, RS techniques can
identify areas vulnerable to erosion and inundation, thereby supporting disaster risk
assessment and preparedness efforts.

​Integration with GIS: Remote Sensing data are often integrated with Geographic
Information System (GIS) technologies to analyze and visualize spatial data in a geospatial
context. GIS enables the overlay of RS-derived information with other spatial datasets,
facilitating spatial analysis, modeling, and decision-making in coastal zone management.

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 ​3. STUDY AREA

​The study area of the beach zone in Kannur district extends for about 82 Km in length. It is
situated along the western side of the district and threatened by erosion and
accretion.Kannur district lies between latitudes 11° 40' to 12° 48' North and longitudes 74°
52' to 76° 56' East.

​The study area of the beach zone in Kannur district extends for about 82 Km in length. It is
situated along the western side of the district and threatened by erosion and accretion.The
breadth of the state varies from 32 km in the extreme north and south to over 120 km in the
middle. The district covers the longest coastal area in Kerala state. The shoreline of Kerala
comprises 80% of sandy sea shores, 5% of Rocky coast and 15% of Muddy pads. The total
length of coastline is about 569.7 km of which about 480.0 km is affected by erosion.

​The coast is characterized by long, narrow and straight open sandy beaches, barrier
beaches/spits, promontories, estuaries, lateritic and rocky platforms and mangroves.
Man-made structures like sea walls, jetties and groins are constructed along and across the
shore in the study area. Some areas are densely populated and have economic and societal
significance as most of the local people depend on fishing in estuaries and it has a number
of small fishing ports. Most of the beach sides are covered with coastal protection structures
such as seawalls and groins. The seawalls are made up of large rock, stone bricks, etc. The
region experiences a tropical climate marked by heavy rainfall and hot weather conditions
in summer. The average annual temperature is 27.2 °C. The study area map appears in
Figure 3.

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​

Figure 2: Kannur District Map

​
​Figure 3: Map Showing Study Sites

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 ​4. REFERENCES

R.S.Kankara, M.V. Ramana Murthy & M. Rajeevan, National Assessment of Shoreline

Changes along Indian Coast(1990-2006),Ministry of Earth Sciences, National Centre For
Coastal Research Chennai -600100 (July,2018)

Thangavelu A, Manoj K, Sapna K, Jyothin C.K. and Prashanth K.P,Investigation of land use
cover patterns of Sea Shore vegetation of Kannur Coast of Northern Kerala, India using
GIS(April,2021)

Hariprasad P.C, Aparna K, Anand Mohan,Anjali A, Rinitha P,Assessment of Coastal Erosion

Along Kannur District, India using GIS(2022)

Assessment of Shoreline Changes along Karnataka Coast, India using GIS & Remote Sensing
Techniques

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