A study on coastal attrition of Dakshina Kannada district using remote sensing and GIS

Mangalore is one of the important coastal towns in Dakshina Kannada along the west coast of India situated at the mouth of Nethravathi-Gurpur estuary. The remote sensing and GIS (Geographical Information System) is a powerful tool to monitor coastal changes by continuous observation. A study has been carried out on the shoreline changes and coastal processes operating in the Dakshina Kannada coast using remote sensing and GIS technique. Survey of India topographical map of 1967 and IRS 1B, LISS II 1993 imagery (Geocoded) both on the scale of 1:50000 has been analysed to elucidate and quantify erosion and accretion in the study area. Erosion is observed at southern spit (Ullal) upto Talapadi and also northern spit (Bengre) upto New Mangalore Port. Accretion is observed at north of New Mangalore Port. Gradual shifting of the estuarine mouth of Nethravathi-Gurpur to the north is also observed. The changes could be attributed to human interference by way of constructing coastal structures.