GEOMATICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING • Volume 15 • Number 3 • 2021
https://doi.org/10.7494/geom.2021.15.3.55
55
Cheikh Tidiane Koulibaly
1
, Johnson O. Ayoade
2
The Application of GIS and Remote Sensing
in a Spatiotemporal Analysis of Coastline Retreat
in Rufisque, Senegal
3
Abstract:
This paper is aimed at analyzing the phenomenon of shoreline retreat in the
locality of Rufisque from 1978 to 2018 mainly using geospatial data and field
visits. A set of Landsat images from different dates at 10 year intervals was then
acquired through the United States Geological Survey platform and shoreline
change analysis was run using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. In addi‑
tion to that desktop work, interactions with local residents allowed the deter‑
mination of ongoing adaptation strategies actually in place to cope with coastal
erosion. The study showed that Rufisque is subject to serious rates of erosion
reaching −19.48 m/year from 1978–1988, close to −8 m/year from 1988–1998,
−5.88 m/year from 1998–2008 and −6.67 m/year from 2008–2018. Beside
that coastal erosion, it has been noticed that the coastline also experienced
in some of its parts cases of accretion reaching 4.94 m/year for 1988–1998,
7.29 m/year from 1998–2008 and 7.68 m/year during the period 2008–2018. In
terms of surfaces, Rufisque’ shoreline respectively lost 156.81 ha (1978–1988),
80.55 ha (1988–1998), 6.94 ha (1998–2008), 12.93 ha (2008–2018) and in the same
note gained 2.86 ha (1988–1998), 32.51 ha (1998–2008) and 19.16 ha (2008–2018)
attesting to the fact that the coastline is subject to both spatiotemporal changes.
Finally, this study also reveals that while authorities’ reaction is taking place at
much lower pace, local communities are actually using their ingenuity to put in
place strategies to tackle coastal erosion.
Keywords: spatiotemporal change, coastline, erosion, accretion, adaptation, Rufisque
Received: 16 February 2021; accepted: 8 March 2021
© 2021 Authors. This is an open access publication, which can be used, distributed and repro‑
duced in any medium according to the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License.
1
University of Ibadan, Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Department of
Environmental Management, Ibadan, Nigeria, email: tidianecheikh90@yahoo.fr,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2979-1179
2
University of Ibadan, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography, Ibadan, Nigeria,
email: ayoadejo@yahoo.com
3
This research has been funded by the Pan African University through the African Union Commission.
https://doi.org/10.7494/geom.2021.15.3.55
55
Cheikh Tidiane Koulibaly
1
, Johnson O. Ayoade
2
The Application of GIS and Remote Sensing
in a Spatiotemporal Analysis of Coastline Retreat
in Rufisque, Senegal
3
Abstract:
This paper is aimed at analyzing the phenomenon of shoreline retreat in the
locality of Rufisque from 1978 to 2018 mainly using geospatial data and field
visits. A set of Landsat images from different dates at 10 year intervals was then
acquired through the United States Geological Survey platform and shoreline
change analysis was run using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. In addi‑
tion to that desktop work, interactions with local residents allowed the deter‑
mination of ongoing adaptation strategies actually in place to cope with coastal
erosion. The study showed that Rufisque is subject to serious rates of erosion
reaching −19.48 m/year from 1978–1988, close to −8 m/year from 1988–1998,
−5.88 m/year from 1998–2008 and −6.67 m/year from 2008–2018. Beside
that coastal erosion, it has been noticed that the coastline also experienced
in some of its parts cases of accretion reaching 4.94 m/year for 1988–1998,
7.29 m/year from 1998–2008 and 7.68 m/year during the period 2008–2018. In
terms of surfaces, Rufisque’ shoreline respectively lost 156.81 ha (1978–1988),
80.55 ha (1988–1998), 6.94 ha (1998–2008), 12.93 ha (2008–2018) and in the same
note gained 2.86 ha (1988–1998), 32.51 ha (1998–2008) and 19.16 ha (2008–2018)
attesting to the fact that the coastline is subject to both spatiotemporal changes.
Finally, this study also reveals that while authorities’ reaction is taking place at
much lower pace, local communities are actually using their ingenuity to put in
place strategies to tackle coastal erosion.
Keywords: spatiotemporal change, coastline, erosion, accretion, adaptation, Rufisque
Received: 16 February 2021; accepted: 8 March 2021
© 2021 Authors. This is an open access publication, which can be used, distributed and repro‑
duced in any medium according to the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License.
1
University of Ibadan, Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Department of
Environmental Management, Ibadan, Nigeria, email: tidianecheikh90@yahoo.fr,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2979-1179
2
University of Ibadan, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography, Ibadan, Nigeria,
email: ayoadejo@yahoo.com
3
This research has been funded by the Pan African University through the African Union Commission.