Examination of driving forces of landscape change in coastal areas: an example of amasra

The coastal areas around the world that change rapidly result in a continuous increase in activities on these areas and demands for them. The determination of time-related changes requires a comparison between the previous and current data. High-resolution satellite images, data relating to tourism, census data, and pictures belonging to the area are among the most important data sources which can be used to determine the time-related changes in coastal areas. The dissertation study is comprised of four parts. The first part includes the literature review related to the study area and method. In the second part, the natural and cultural data regarding the study area have been obtained and presented numerically. In the third part, the visual and numeric data of the area have been evaluated as well as the questionnaire study. Finally, the last part involves the result, assessment, and suggestions. Old pictures belonging to the study area taken on different dates were obtained. Then, the pictures of the study area were taken from the same aspect again. New pictures were compared to the old ones and the changes in the study area were determined. The data obtained from the various institutions and organizations were stored hardware using the GIS (Geographical Information System) and the maps of the necessary data were prepared. After the necessary permission was received, the climatic and census data were obtained from the General Directorate of Meteorology. These data were examined and some graphs and tables were prepared accordingly. Interpreting the obtained data, the relations and interactions among them were determined. In accordance with these relations and interactions, the natural, cultural, and sociological changes were concluded and some ideas and suggestions regarded as useful and necessary for the development and future of Amasra were put forward.