Integrating Geomorphological Susceptibility Indices and UAS-LiDAR Data Coastal Erosion Monitoring: The Agri River Mouth Case Study (Southern Italy)

<jats:p>Qualitative and quantitative estimation of coastal susceptibility is crucial for risk management, especially for coastal landscapes prone to sea-level rise and increasing human pressure. Geomorphological-based indices, utilizing physical variables like shoreline change and spatial extent of dune ridges, represent a consolidated approach for estimating potential erosion susceptibility in low-relief coasts. UAS- based LiDAR data enable the generation of high-resolution DEMs, which are essential to identify relevant coastal settings and to perform change detection analysis. In this study, we conducted a short- to medium-term (approx. 10 years) comparison of LiDAR-derived DEMs in a highly vulnerable sector of the Ionian coastal belt to gain new insights into its geomorphological evolution and retreating process. This analysis was applied to the coast of the Basilicata region, Southern Italy, near the Agri River mouth. The area exhibits strong human impact and environmental factors promoting significant shoreline retreat and permanent coastal erosion.</jats:p>