Project title: coaSTal Erosion in cyPrus from Space (STEPS)
Abstract: Coastal erosion is a dynamic process which may pose significant threats to coastal communities and infrastructures near the shorelines. Many existing conventional techniques for the identification of coastal erosion (ground-based and airborne-based) are limited due to small spatial coverage, logistical difficulties, and high costs. Spaceborne remote sensing techniques provide an alternative cost-effective solution for the efficient monitoring of coastal areas. The ESA-PECS project “coaSTal Erosion in cyPrus from Space” (STEPS) aims to explore Copernicus and ESA third-party mission data for assessing and monitoring coastal erosion in Cyprus based on geoinformation techniques. Due to heavy human intervention (e.g., construction of large dams – sediment impounded at the dam sites) during the past decades, the Limassol coastline (Cyprus) is subjected to enhanced beach-type erosional processes, posing an environmental and socio-economic risk. The project will identify the best practices for coastal erosion monitoring through spaceborne-based technologies; will explore the factors which enhance coastal erosion processes and will develop a theoretical framework for the optimization of the coastal erosion monitoring system tailored to the specific needs of Cyprus (Limassol district). The outcomes of this project will provide crucial information to policy makers and stakeholders for coastal erosion risk assessment.
Preliminary results: The Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) map for the western Limassol coast reveals significant variations in coastal vulnerability along the shoreline (Figure 1). The coastline around Akrotiri’s cape, as well as in some bays such as Avdimou and Episkopi, exhibits a mix of high and very high vulnerability areas, indicating these sections are most susceptible to erosion and other coastal hazards. The central portions of the coast show moderate vulnerability, while the remaining areas are classified as having low to very low vulnerability.
Consortium:
ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, Cyprus (Coordinator)
Acknowledgements:
STEPS project is funded under the 8th European Space Agency (ESA) Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS) with Contract No. 4000142840/23/NL/MH/nh.
