Monitoring of Coastal Areas by Remote Sensing and Engineering Approaches

Monitoring coastal regions is very important to protect the marine environment as a whole. Coastal erosion, sea level rise, coastal changes, flooding, and harmful algal blooms, are examples of challenges in coastal areas resulting from climate change. Furthermore, pollution from oil spills and agricultural activities that release large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, drug residues, sediments and saline drainage into coastal waters are further examples of coastal challenges and criticalities. All of these challenges require a high level of attention. Coastal monitoring through remote sensing approaches and possible models capable of predicting future developments can represent valid tools available to policymakers to develop interventions. Hard and soft engineering interventions can counteract the effects of coastal erosion, wave action, shoreline and flooding, thus restoring coasts and all associated activities. This mini-review describes remote sensing approaches for coastal monitoring, such as the use of unmanned aircraft, and possible hard and soft engineering interventions capable of mitigating coastal damage according to sustainability rules.