A gis approach to analysing the observable spatio-temporal shoreline changes at koluama2 settlement, bayelsa state, Nigeria (1990-2020)

This study is aimed at analyzing shoreline changes, for the purpose of promoting better understanding of the trends, causes and impact of shoreline changes along the coastline of Koluama2 settlement in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. To achieve this aim, the study therefore examined the spatio temporal changes along the Koluama2 shoreline with respect to analyzing the long term and short term shoreline changes. The study adopted a Geographic Information System (GIS) technique for data analysis. The GIS analyses adopted the use of Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) of ArcGIS 10.8.2 to detect, measure and determine changes in the shoreline position through the End Point Rate (EPR) statistics. The EPR results for the long term shoreline change reveal that the transects line cast on the shore of the study area recorded statistically significant erosion value of 100%. This trend indicates that in the long term, erosion is the dominant event along the shoreline of Koluama2 settlement. Analysis of the short term shoreline change reveals that erosion was recorded as the most dominant event on the shore of the study area. The study recommended amongst others the execution of coastal zone management for the region.