A MODEL FOR DETERMINING THE CLASSIFICATION, VULNERABILITY AND RISK INTHE SOUTHERN COASTAL ZONE OF THE MARCHE (ITALY)

A method is proposed for the classification of coasts with the aim of providing a tool for more correct planning and management of the coast line. The 70-km long southern coast of the Marche was subdivided into 24 stretches, each of which were described by fifteen variables: three describe the hydrodynamic and energy characteristics of the coast; fo ur describe the evolutionary trends of the beach; seven describe the m orphological and sedimentological features of the exposed beach and of the sea floor; and one quantifies the degree of human intervention. T he matrix of the variables was processed using factor analysis and clu ster analysis. The results of this investigation enabled us to determi ne the relationships between the variables and to group similar coasta l tracts. This in turn allowed us to classify the coastal zones and to attribute a degree of flood vulnerability to each one. Subsequently, by relating the vulnerability to the degree of urbanization, a risk le vel was defined for each of the coastal stretches.