Elijah-Oluwapelumi/Coastal-Dynamics-of-Angola-A-Remote-Sensing-and-GIS-Approach-to-Shoreline-and-Bathymetric-Mapping

Coastal environments represent some of the most complex and rapidly changing landscapes on Earth. They are shaped by the interaction of oceanographic, geomorphological, and atmospheric processes, which together determine patterns of erosion, deposition, and sediment transport. # Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Coastal Change: Shoreline Mapping and Bathymetric Assessment Along the Angola Coastline --- ## Table of Contents - Project Overview - Objectives - Study Area - Data Sources - Tools and Technologies - Methodology - Results and Insights - Spatial Analysis - Interpretation - Conclusion - Recommendations --- ## Project Overview Angola's coastline spans approximately 1,650 km along the South Atlantic Ocean, encompassing a diverse range of geomorphological and ecological features shaped by the Benguela Current, major river systems, and ongoing urbanization pressures. This project applies **Remote Sensing and GIS** techniques to carry out a spatio-temporal analysis of Angola's coastline, integrating bathymetric mapping with automated shoreline detection. The study reveals underwater slope variability, coastal habitat zones, and current shoreline configuration to support evidence-based coastal management. --- ## Objectives - Acquire and preprocess spatial datasets including GEBCO bathymetric data, GRID3 Africa boundary shapefiles, and Landsat satellite imagery - Generate bathymetric products such as hillshade maps, depth transects, and 3D visualizations to reveal seafloor morphology - Identify and classify major coastal features and potential habitat zones - Detect the shoreline using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) and NDWI-based extraction - Provide region-specific recommendations for coastal management and erosion mitigation --- ## Study Area Angola's coastline extends from the mouth of the Congo River in the north (border with the Republic of Congo) to the Cunene River in the south (border with Namibia), spanning latitudes 4°22′S to 18°S. The coast is divided into three distinct sectors: - **Northern Coast** — Humid, river-influenced, with mangroves, estuaries, and lagoons - **Central Coast** — Heavily urbanized around Luanda, with major ports, erosion risk, and industrial activity - **Southern Coast** — Ari …