Shoreline change analysis along the coast of Bandar Abbas city, Iran using remote sensing images

Coastal cities are among the most important and sensitive regions in the world. They are constantly affected by marine and coastal processes such as waves, currents, and other geological-physical parameters such as sedimentation and deposition. These factors constantly change the shoreline. Thus, evaluation and management at coastal area are very important. In this study, the rate of shoreline changes in the coastal area of Bandar Abbas, south of Iran, was investigated using remote sensing technique and DSAS tools. Landsat 8, 7 and, 5 satellite and Sentinel-2A satellite images were used to detect the rate of changes. Images from the years 1990 to 2020 were selected with 5-year time-interval. Using the NSM, SCE, EPR, and LRR statistical indexes of the DSAS tool, erosion and accretion rates were calculated in about 50 km of shoreline length. According to the EPR index Nakhl e Nakhoda jetty and Shoor River estuary show the maximum and minimum rate of changes, with amount of +31.07 m/yr and +4.83 m/yr, respectively. The average rate of changes was calculated as +12.34 m/yr. We recognized this part of the shoreline as the most sensitive area and suggested that any further development in this area should be undertaken obsessively. Shoreline of urban area of Bandar Abbas generally shows positive rate of change less than +5 m/yr, with the average rate of +2.35 m/yr, which suggests development in this area is in slow pace. In general, only 4% of the shoreline of is detected with high accretion (20.5 to 31.5 m/year) and about 53% is recognized as low accretion (0.5 to 10.5 m/year).