Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI)

At the state level, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) conducted a coastal vulnerability analysis for the whole Indian coast. The evaluation was carried out in order to produce an Atlas with 156 maps in order to create a Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI). Coastal vulnerability is a geospatial concept which identifies people and areas that are vulnerable to coastal hazards’ disruptions. Coastal hazards such as coastal storms, rising sea levels, and erosion pose serious dangers to the physical, economical, and social systems of coastal communities.

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About Coastal Vulnerability Index

• The CVI developed by INCOIS assesses the likelihood of physical changes as a result of rising sea levels, depending on factors such as:
  1. Geomorphology
  2. Shoreline change rate
  3. Coastal elevation
  4. Coastal slope
  5. Wave height
  6. Tidal range
  7. The degree of relative sea-level change throughout history.
• Depending on the physical and geophysical criteria for the Indian coast, the maps will predict the coastal dangers owing to future sea-level rise.
• Using the aforementioned criteria, a coastal Multi Hazard Vulnerability Mapping (MHVM) had also been carried out.
• The composite hazard zones which can be inundated all along coastal low-lying areas owing to extreme flooding events were created using these factors.

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Importance

Coastal vulnerability analyses can provide valuable information for disaster preparedness and the development of resilient coastal communities. This information can help avert loss of life and property as well as help city planners develop coastal hazard resilient designs.

Fact: India has a total coastline of 7516.6 kilometres, including 6100 kilometres of mainland coastline and 1197 kilometres of coastline on Indian islands, which span 13 states as well as union territories (UTs).

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

INCOIS is an independent body that works under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It was founded in the year of 1999 and is located in Hyderabad. It is a unit of the New Delhi based Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO). For policies and programmes, the ESSO serves as an executive arm of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Through continuous ocean observations and continuing development through systematic and targeted research, it is tasked to deliver the finest possible maritime information and advisory services for the community, industry, government agencies, and the scientific community.

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