Analysis of Long-Term Shoreline Observations in the Vicinity of Coastal Structures: A Case Study of South Bali Beaches

Abstract

Recently, many rigid structures have been installed to cope with and efficiently manage coastal erosion. However, the changes in the coastline or isocenter and the movements of coastal sediment are poorly understood. This study examined the equilibrium shoreline and isocenter lines by applying a Model of Estimating Equilibrium Parabolic-type Shoreline (MeEPASoL) as an equilibrium shoreline prediction model. In addition, the inverse method was used to estimate littoral drift sediment transport from long-term beach profile observations. The movement of coastal sediments was analyzed using long-term beach profile observation data for three Indonesian beaches, namely, Kuta Beach for 13 years, Karang Beach in Sanur for 15 years, and Samuh Beach in Nusa Dua for 18 years. The littoral drift at every site was dynamically controlled by seasonal changes in the monsoon, the erosion and deposition patterns coupled with the presence of coastal structures, and limited sediment movement. Shoreline deformation in Kuta is generally backward deformed, with a littoral drift from south to north. In Sanur, the littoral drift vector carries sediment from the right and left sides and forms a salient behind the offshore breakwater. The littoral drift at Nusa Dua is dominantly from south to north, but the force of sediment transport decreases near the breakwater towards the north. Furthermore, the methods applied herein could aid the development of strategic coastal management plans to control erosion in subcells of coastal areas.