Evolution of the Shoreline Between the Ports of Valencia and Sagunto (1957-Present)

Coastal areas are increasingly affected by erosion due to climate change and human in-terventions, threatening the stability of many shorelines. Understanding coastal dynamics is therefore crucial for developing effective conservation and management strategies. This study analyses the evolution of the coastline between the Port of Valencia and the Port of Sagunto from 1957 to the present. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including QGIS and the DSAS extension, five shoreline change indicators (EPR, LRR, NSM, SCE, and WLR) were calculated based on coastlines extracted from orthophotos and satellite imag-es. The analysis was conducted across five distinct zones and three temporal scales (long, medium, and short term) to capture spatial and temporal variations. The results reveal significant heterogeneity: the Arenas–Malvarrosa–Patacona area shows long-term accre-tion but recent erosion, Port Saplaya shows moderate erosion, Pobla de Farnals is under-going strong regression, Puzol appears recently stabilized, and Marjal dels Moros, histor-ically stable, now exhibits increasing retreat. Overall, coastal evolution in the study area is influenced by both natural processes and human actions. The data provide valuable in-sights for medium- and long-term coastal planning and sustainable territorial management.