Approaches to Evaluate the Shoreline Response to Coastal Structures and Identification of Improved, Suitable Approach for Chennai – Krishnapatnam Coast, Southern India

Shoreline response to climatic changes is slow and gradual, due to globally driven large-scale parameters and it is susceptible to manmade developments (Structures). Construction of coastal structures and intervention structures such as breakwaters, groins, jetties, and port structures, trigger rapid changes in the shoreline irrevocably. The decision to build a coastal structure needs a thorough study of the shoreline response to structural developments. There are different kinds of methods adopted to study the environmental and structural parameters governing or controlling the shoreline response to coastal structures. The results gleaned from methods such as long term field observations (Bathymetry, tide, wave, water current, and wind data), laboratory physical models, and numerical studies coupled with remote sensing techniques throughout the world. Various numerical modeling software such as LITPACK, MIKE, TELEMAC, etc. have been used to identify shoreline changes, sediment dynamics induced morphology, and morphodynamics around coastal structures. This paper describes and compares the different methods adopted in the world to date, for demarcation of shoreline response to different coastal structures in the sandy coast, and their limitations. Chennai to Krishnapatnam coastal stretch consists of three major ports as well as a salt lake, estuaries, lagoons and tidal inlets. This study helps to identify a suitable approach coupled with improved techniques to evaluate the shoreline response to coastal structures in Chennai - Krishnapatnam coast, southern India.