Impact of Coastal Structures on Shoreline Evolution Along the Coast of Cyprus Island

Coastal zones are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise and anthropogenic interventions, with erosion emerging as one of the most pressing challenges for coastal management worldwide. Hard engineering structures modify littoral transport, often producing local sand accumulation while accrelerating erosion in unsheltered segments. In Cyprus, a Mediterranean island where tourism and livelihoods heavily depend on the coastal margin, extensive coastal infrastructure was built following widespread damming and urban expansion in the 1960s. This study analyzes shoreline evolution between 1963 and 2019 in five representative coastal sites, using remote sensing datasets and the QGIS-based Shoreline Change Analysis Tool. Erosion and accretion trends in relation to defense configurations were quantified using shoreline metrics and area change analysis, combined with hindcast wave climate data and sector-based exposure classification, while explicitly incorporating uncertainties associated with mapping, tidal variation, and wave runup. Results show that groins promote accretion only within their immediate shadow, while breakwater--marina systems generated the strongest downdrift losses. Integrated multi-structure layouts proved more effective, enhancing accretion within sheltered zones and facilitating limited redistribution alongshore. These findings underscore the need for adaptive, evidence-based coastal planning in Cyprus.