Coastal Erosion in The Unprotected and Protected Sections At Berakas: A comparative study in Brunei Darussalam

• Published in: Southeast Asia 2021-06, Vol.21 (1), p.45-62
• Main Authors: Latif, Md Mahdi Hj Abd, Yong, Gabriel Y.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coastal erosion; Coasts; Commuting; Physical activity; Spatial analysis
• ISSN: 1819-5091; 2948-0426
• DOI: 10.1108/SEAMJ-01-2021-B1004

The coast at Berakas in the Brunei-Muara district of Brunei Darussalam suffers from erosion caused by a combination of fluvial and marine processes. This paper investigates the rate and pattern of erosion along a 1.8-km stretch of coast to compare the difference between the unprotected and protected sections. We used (i) image and spatial analysis and (ii) field geomorphology. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) in ArcGIS was used to compare the study area using two Google Earth images. The study found that the unprotected section had receded by 4.6 m between 2009 and 2019, while the protected section had advanced by 8.0 m over the same period; intense gullying and slumping of cliff continued at both sections. The detached headland breakwaters in the protected section were effective in stabilizing the coast. A concrete drain installed parallel to the cliff edge appears to be capable of intercepting storm runoff, but its effectiveness was undermined by lack of maintenance. We conclude that terrestrial-fluvial processes continue to erode coastal land and cause slumping of the cliff face at Berakas. However, coastal protection structures that curb the marine process could stabilize the coastline, even where sediment transport is active.