Browsing by Author "Balu, R."

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Development of a regional-scale erosion vulnerability assessment approach along a human-intervened coast–a case study from the southern part of Kerala, India
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Parvathy, M.M.; Balu, R.; Dwarakish, G.S.
The coastal district of Thiruvananthapuram, situated in the southern part of the state of Kerala, is endowed with sandy beaches, majestic cliffs, scenic backwaters and rocky promontories, aside from hosting a sizeable coastal population, well-known tourist attractions, unique biodiversity, and numerous developmental activities. However, erosion is one hazard that gravely impacts these zones, disturbing the coastal environment and affecting the lives of thousands residing in these regions. The present study attempts to identify the critical vulnerable areas to erosion, considering the combined influence of hazard parameters, i.e. drivers of erosion and risk parameters, i.e. the assets at stake. A multi-criteria decision-making approach, integrated with expert ranking, is adopted in the present study to identify and classify the vulnerable stretches, demanding urgent intervention to prevent further erosion and safeguard vital resources. The results indicate that approximately 10% of the coast falls under low vulnerability, 77% under medium vulnerability, 12 % under high vulnerability, and 1% under very high vulnerability. The coastal reaches of Shangumugham and Anchuthengu are identified as highly vulnerable and in urgent need of intervention. The spatial distribution of vulnerability necessitates a focused and site-specific management plan to tackle the present and possible erosion issues and protect critical resources. © 2025 Indian Society for Hydraulics.
Time-series analysis of erosion issues on a human-intervened coast– A case study of the south-west coast of India
(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Parvathy, M.M.; Balu, R.; Dwarakish, G.S.
Coastal erosion has long been identified as a cause of concern for the state of Kerala, situated in the Indian subcontinent, affecting the life and livelihood of millions residing in the coastal belt. The increased human interference supplemented by changes in the climatic pattern in recent years has modified the coastal scenario of the state altogether. The present study attempts to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic influences in modifying the coastal scenario to review the efficiency of the coastal management policy adopted by the state over the years. For this purpose, the shorelines extracted from the available multi-temporal satellite images are analysed using DSAS software to calculate the shoreline change rate prior to 2000 (1973-98) and post-2000 (2002-21) using the linear rate of regression method. The study seeks to key out critically eroding areas, subsequently exploring the possible conducive reasons for the changed coastal scenario. The results indicate a reduction of 34.5% in the share of eroding length, with a visible shift in a substantial portion of coastal stretch from the mild erosion category to the stable category. Despite the state's continuous efforts to curb the issue, the long-term shoreline change over the past 49 years (1973–2021) reveals erosion to be dominant in nearly 39.12% of the coastal length, with the share of eroding length in the southern, central and northern regions as 33.8%, 38.67% and 44.04%, respectively. The results point towards the dominance of human interventions accompanied by climate change impacts as the primary reason for transforming the coast, necessitating the need to modify the state's current coastal management policy. The research emphasises the need for a comprehensive coastal management plan for the state to take heed of the changing climatic scenario. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd