Riverbank erosion induced vulnerability in India: a review for future research framework

Riverbank erosion is a significant risk that results in damages and economic losses. India is severely vulnerable to riverbank erosion due to its demographic profile, socio-economic conditions, and physiographic setting. This paper attempts to analyze the studies on vulnerability to riverbank erosion in India through a systematic literature review from 2007 to 2023. A total of 68 articles were chosen for this study using keyword search. The findings revealed that studies on political as well as physical and psychological health vulnerability were underrepresented. Ecological vulnerability studies based on site-specific indicators were also found to be limited. The maximum number of studies were concentrated in West Bengal and Assam. Studies based on the use of machine learning and other automated techniques were scant in the existing literature. Most of the reviewed articles relied on a qualitative and descriptive approach. Though a substantial body of work has been carried out on riverbank erosion, the vulnerability posed by riverbank erosion requires adequate representation. The study calls for carrying out more research on specific target groups based on gender, age, and other socio-cultural parameters. Hydrodynamic models and machine learning algorithms for analyzing vulnerability to riverbank erosion are suggested for the future progression of the research.