LAUSR

The present study has considered the shoreline morphological changes following the construction of coastal structures, viz., groins and breakwaters along the southwest coast of India. Shoreline modifications adjoining breakwaters and groins can be utilized as an indicator of the nature of sediment transport, as direct measurements involve tedious and sophisticated methods. The 590 km coastline of Kerala is characterized by complex coastal hydrodynamic and morphological features along with coastal protection measures. Shoreline modifications were estimated using multidated maps, images, and GPS shoreline mapping. The net sediment transport is northerly along southern and some part of the northern sectors, while no net sediment transport is observed for many other parts of the northern sector. The central sector shows net southerly sediment transport. In general, the sediment transport along the Kerala is a complex, multi-directional, and dynamic process. Moreover as the sediment transport is site-specific, appropriate analysis of sediment dynamics at a small scale is thus crucial for any coastal engineering work along this coast.