Assessment of coastal change detection on an urban coastline: A case study in metropolitan Manila, Philippines

Abstract

The coastal zone around the urban coastline of Metro Manila is said to be suffering major environmental difficulties due to fast population growth and urbanization. This study uses remote sensing and GIS techniques to (i) examine changes in land use/land cover and (ii) detect coastal changes. Between 1992 and 2020, four Landsat map images were obtained to create land-use/land-cover (LULC) maps to detect shoreline changes. Each dataset is subjected to an accuracy assessment, with an average LULC mapping accuracy of roughly 90%. The northern part of the study area, which is in Navotas City was composed of trees and grasslands but as the years went by it was converted into fishponds while the critically important Ramsar site, LPPCHEA, have maintained the preservation of its natural mangrove forest. In a 30-year period, the urban coastline of Metro Manila decreased by around 1.5 kilometers. This study can be used to design a long-term plan and environmental management strategy of Metro Manila.