Monitoring Coastline Dynamics Using Satellite Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems: A Review of Global Trends

Nearly half of the world’s population lives near the coasts of oceans and seas. The coastline position changes under the influence of multiple natural and anthropogenic factors. Recently, due to the global impacts of climate change and population growth, the issue of geomorphological changes in coastlines has become more critical. Therefore, the assessment and mapping of coastline dynamics is one of the most essential factors for sustainable development goals and urban planning. The objectives of this study are to focus on discussing the research progress of applications of satellite remote sensing datasets and GIS methods for coastline extraction, mapping, and analysis along global coasts. A systematic review and trend analysis of the most recent published studies that focused on remote sensing and GIS techniques for assessing coastal dynamics were published between 2012 and 2022 along different coasts worldwide. The results indicated that multisource and multisensor remote sensing datasets were globally utilized for monitoring coastline changes, including (1) medium-resolution imagery such as Sentinel and Landsat, (2) SAR and optical high-resolution imagery, (3) modern remote sensing technologies such as UAV and LiDAR, and (4) GIS-based methods, spatial analysis, and artificial intelligence. This study concludes that coastal change can be tracked using any form of remote sensing, including drones, LiDAR, higher resolution imaging, and Landsat imagery. This review provides a comprehensive reference for upcoming work on coastal management and exploitation development and research, especially for the low elevation coastal zones that are affected by coastal hazards.