GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis for sustainable development of coastal water bodies created by 2004 tsunami and tectonic subsidence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

More than two decades after 2004 Tsunami and Tectonic subsidence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the resultant generated coastal water bodies are remain unutilized in many locations and some of the areas are recently land filled for the construction. These seawater inundated areas are highly vulnerable to natural disasters and crocodile infestation, utilising these lands for settlements and commercial constructions is not recommended. The present study aims to identify site suitability for sustainable development of inundated areas through Nature-based Solutions and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. The Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, along with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), are used for the site suitability analysis of Brackish water Aquaculture, particularly shrimp culture and crab culture, which is clearly aligned with local livelihood preferences. In this study, three inundated areas of South Andaman Island are selected for detailed analysis: Ograbrach, Wandoor, and Stewart Gunj. A total of 13 criteria were used, which are categorised into environmental parameters, water quality, and infrastructure. The spatial interpolation maps are prepared for all 13 criteria. The AHP is employed to weight and rank the criteria. Using weighted overlay analysis, suitable areas for aquaculture activities are identified. The result shows that 9.6 ha in Ograbrach and 36.5 ha in Stewart Gunj are most suitable for Shrimp culture, and 18.5 ha in Wandoor is suitable for crab culture. The findings highlight the importance of introducing resilient development strategies in the inundated areas to ensure their long-term viability and sustainability.