A Shoreline Change Analysis Using Satellite Images Survey and DSAS Technique: A Case Study of Monastir-Chebba Coast, Tunisia

Coastal areas support 70% of the Tunisian population and economic activity. These areas are subject to sea level changes and have been heavily affected by severe erosion and accretion due to climate change and human activities. Understanding the causes and mechanisms of coastal morphological changes is therefore essential to provide optimum solutions for coastal management and protection. Wherefore, this research focuses on shoreline evolution monitoring along the central Sahel coast (Monastir-Chebba coast) in Tunisia during the period from 2013 to 2021 using the Landsat Multi-temporal images and the DSAS technique. The current study used NDWI to delineate boundary lands and waters for coastline extraction. Rates of coastal change through erosion and accretion patterns are automatically quantified by three statistical parameters provided in DSAS, namely SCE, EPR, and LRR. LRR results elucidate that the Tunisian Sahel coast has undergone an important dynamic evolution with an average accretion rate of 1.8 m/year. Out of 603 km, erosion occupied 45.52% of the coast and accretion is found along 54.48% of the coast with an average distance of SCE of 22.71 m. A thorough examination of current maritime infrastructures and their impact on coastal dynamics can serve in comprehending the sources of coastal degradation and/or protection. Therefore, the findings of this study provide useful information to improve the sustainability of coastal areas.