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Sustainability
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Perspectives and Challenges in Sustainable Management of Urban Coastal Areas
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Perspectives and Challenges in Sustainable Management of Urban Coastal Areas

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 June 2024 | Viewed by 2587

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Silvija Šiljeg

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Guest Editor
Department of Geography, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Interests: urban geography; spatial data modeling; quality of life
Dr. Fran Domazetović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, University of Zadar, Trg kneza Višeslava 9, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
Interests: geomorphology; GIS; remote sensing
Dr. Ivan Marić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Interests: GIS; remote sensing; sustainable management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban coastal areas represent the fastest-developing parts of the world, and are affected by complex and dynamic processes. While on the one hand, they are characterized by rapid urban expansion and population growth, on the other, they are faced with various increasing anthropogenic and natural pressures. The well-organized prevention and mitigation of negative consequences and the achievement of sustainable development in these vulnerable areas require efficient identification of the problems and pressures affecting them. Therefore, the main aim of this Special Issue is to publish research that improves sustainability in urban coastal areas through approaches based on either the identification of problems and pressures that currently exist in coastal areas, or innovative solutions for the mitigation and prevention of negative pressures. Since the spatio-temporal evolution of urban coastal areas is shaped by both natural and anthropogenic processes, this Special Issue will cover topics related to both the socio-economic and natural aspects of sustainability.

We are interested in research and case studies that combine innovative technical and scientific approaches with practical applications and that are focused on improving overall sustainability in urban coastal areas.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on the following topics:

(1) Socio-economic aspects of sustainability in urban coastal areas:

§  Demographic trends in urban coastal areas.

§  Quality of life in urban coastal areas.

§  Pollution in urban coastal areas.

§  Effects of tourism on urban coastal areas.

§  Rapid urban development in coastal areas.

§  Transportation infrastructure in urban coastal areas.

§  Sustainability of food supply chains in urban coastal areas.

§  Protection of heritage in urban coastal areas.

(2) Natural aspects of sustainability in urban coastal areas:

§  Impacts of rising sea levels on urban coastal areas.

§  Pluvial floods in coastal urban areas.

§  Vulnerability of tsunami-prone urban coastal areas.

§  The increasing resilience of coastal urban areas to climate change.

§  Disaster management in urban coastal areas.

§  Land-cover changes in urban coastal areas.

§  Beach morphodynamics in urban coastal areas.

§  Coastal erosion in urban areas.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Silvija Šiljeg
Dr. Fran Domazetović
Dr. Ivan Marić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable management
  • urban coastal areas
  • mitigation
  • pressures
  • challenges

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4344 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Metals in Sediments of the Krka River Estuary (Croatia)
by Nuša Cukrov, Ana-Marija Cindrić, Dario Omanović and Neven Cukrov
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051800 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 533
Abstract
To evaluate the level of contamination and predict the potential toxicity risk, selected metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As) were determined in 40 surface sediment samples from the stratified karstic Krka River estuary (Croatia). In addition, diffusive [...] Read more.
To evaluate the level of contamination and predict the potential toxicity risk, selected metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As) were determined in 40 surface sediment samples from the stratified karstic Krka River estuary (Croatia). In addition, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) probes were deployed in situ to understand the mobilization mechanisms and bioavailability of metals in the sediment. The results show significant spatial differences between the upper and lower estuary, with the latter being more affected by anthropogenic pollution. The pollution assessment using the enrichment factor (EF), the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and the pollution load index (PLI) showed a strong enrichment of metals in the lower part of the estuary, especially of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, and As. The statistical analysis (PCA) revealed the former ferromanganese factory and the port as major sources of pollution in the area. Nickel, Co, and Cr, although slightly elevated, may be attributed to the natural origin. The metal mobility in the estuarine sediment was primarily governed by early diagenetic processes (aerobic organic matter mineralization, Fe and Mn oxyhydroxide reduction), which caused the release of metals from the sediment into the pore water and subsequently into the overlying water column. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives and Challenges in Sustainable Management of Urban Coastal Areas)
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20 pages, 11115 KiB  
Article
Pluvial Flood Susceptibility in the Local Community of the City of Gospić (Croatia)
by Silvija Šiljeg, Rina Milošević and Marica Mamut
Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041701 - 19 Feb 2024
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Pluvial flooding (PF), resulting from intense short-duration rainfall events, is challenging in urban areas amidst climate change and rapid urbanization. Identifying flood-prone zones and implementing collaborative mitigation strategies with the local population are crucial aspects of PF management. This study aims to enhance [...] Read more.
Pluvial flooding (PF), resulting from intense short-duration rainfall events, is challenging in urban areas amidst climate change and rapid urbanization. Identifying flood-prone zones and implementing collaborative mitigation strategies with the local population are crucial aspects of PF management. This study aims to enhance the understanding of urban PF in Croatia by collecting historical PF data, creating the GIS-MCDA susceptibility model, and conducting a risk perception survey for the study area of Gospić. Susceptibility zones were generated utilizing topographical, environmental, and hydrological criteria using the AHP method. To examine the risk perception, a face-to-face survey was conducted among 5% of the city’s population (N = 64). Five factors were defined: (F1) risk awareness, (F2) anthropogenic and (F3) natural causes of PF, (F4) potential consequences, and (F5) preparedness. The reliability of the questionnaire was very high (>0.71). Most respondents believe they are ill-equipped to defend against flooding independently and express a lack of confidence in the measures taken by local authorities. The highly susceptible zones encompass not only agricultural areas but also residential zones of city. Among all respondents, 36% live in a flood-prone area and half of them have no flood insurance or other mitigation measures. Incorporating locals’ suggestions and problems, mitigation measures were proposed. Results from this research can be a starting point for further research in Croatia and can provide guidelines for decision-makers in implementing a risk mitigation strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives and Challenges in Sustainable Management of Urban Coastal Areas)
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28 pages, 26827 KiB  
Article
Infiltration Efficiency Index for GIS Analysis Using Very-High-Spatial-Resolution Data
by Ante Šiljeg, Lovre Panđa, Rajko Marinović, Nino Krvavica, Fran Domazetović, Mladen Jurišić and Dorijan Radočaj
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115563 - 02 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1002
Abstract
Infiltration models and impervious surface models have gained significant attention in recent years as crucial tools in urban and environmental planning, to assess the extent of land-surface changes and their impacts on hydrological processes. These models are important for understanding the hydrological dynamics [...] Read more.
Infiltration models and impervious surface models have gained significant attention in recent years as crucial tools in urban and environmental planning, to assess the extent of land-surface changes and their impacts on hydrological processes. These models are important for understanding the hydrological dynamics and ecological impacts of urbanization and for the improvement of sustainable land-use planning and stormwater-management strategies. Due to the fact that many authors partially or entirely overlook the significance of the infiltration process in geographic information system (GIS) analyses, there is currently no universally accepted method for creating an infiltration model that is suitable for GIS multicriteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA). This research paper presents an innovative approach to modeling the infiltration-efficiency index (IEI) for GIS analysis, with a focus on achieving high-quality results. The proposed methodology integrates very-high-resolution (VHR) remote-sensing data, GIS-MCDA, and statistical methods. The methodology was tested and demonstrated on a small sub-catchment in Metković, Croatia. The study developed a VHR IEI model from six specific criteria that produced values between 0 and 0.71. The model revealed that 14.89% of the research area is covered by impervious surfaces. This percentage is relatively favorable when compared to urban areas globally. The majority of the research area (62.79%) has good infiltration efficiency. These areas are predominantly characterized by agricultural land use, encompassing orchards, tangerines, olive groves, vineyards, and a diverse range of low-lying and high vegetation on flat terrain. The IEI model can provide input spatial data for high-resolution GIS analysis of hydrological processes. This model will aid decision-makers in stormwater-management, flood-risk assessment, land-use planning, and the design of green infrastructure. By utilizing the information derived from this study, policymakers can make informed decisions to mitigate flooding risks and promote sustainable urban development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives and Challenges in Sustainable Management of Urban Coastal Areas)
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