Modelling the causal relationship of risk factors associated to coastal erosion using dematel method

Abstract

The coastline of Malaysia is rich with coastal resources and has abnndance of natural biodiversity. The coastal zone covers almost 70% of the living population and has recognized as one of the centre of socioeconomic grovvth for agriculture industries, oil and gas exploitation, fisheries, tourism and reclamation. However, these activities may cause severe harms to the geographical landscapes of coastal zone such as erosion. Besides, environmental changes such as climate change, tidal wave, wind and sea level rise also may affect the coastal erosion. Since there is many other intangibles of risk factors related to coastal erosion, this study attempt to investigate the causes-effects of the coastal erosion factor using Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method (DEJ\1ATEL). In this study, four dimensions and fourteen critical criteria was identified as critical factors contributing to the erosion. The DEJ\1A TEL method is used due to its ability to construct digraphs of causal relationship for both dimensions and its critical criteria. The results suggest that shoreline changes/evolution, wave condition and relative sea level rise are the risk causes and however wave condition is one of the main dimension related to coastal erosion. Thus, it is hoped that the findings could be beneficial to policy makers regarding measures that need to be nndertake in dealing with coastal erosion