Fuzzy classification of vulnerability to coastal processes in Pontal do Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

The classification of the vulnerability for coastal processes considering both natural factors and anthropogenic interference can contribute for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). This contribution develops a fuzzy system to classify the vulnerability of coastal processes in the coastal zone of Pontal do Sul, PR, Brazil. The study area was divided into three sectors with different characteristics, which provided diverse inputs to test this fuzzy system. Considered input variables are set as the follows: anthropogenic interference, average wave height, tidal range and the influence of the estuary in the region. The output of the final classification presents three linguistic labels, which represents three levels of vulnerability as stable, moderate and unstable. The results by the defuzzification in the fuzzy system are numerical values in a scale ranging from 0 to 8. The following values have been obtained as 5.9, 6.7 and 1.3; for the three sectors indicating unstable, unstable and stable classification respectively. In order to corroborate the efficacy of modeling, the results were compared with existing classification of the study area. The method can be an alternative approach for the expert’s role in decision-making in related studies.