Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) Assessment for the Central Part of the Albanian Coast

The coastal vulnerability index (CVI) is used as an indicator for the estimation of relative vulnerability of different segments in the central part of the Albanian Coast. In this area, the sandy beach has suffered strong erosions in the last 20 years. In particular, in different segments situated at Karpen - Qerret lowland, during the last years the annual erosion rates reach values up to 40 m/year. In order to calculate the CVI, geological and physical parameters are used. The geological parameters consist in geomorphology, regional coastal slope and shoreline erosion/accretion rate, while the physical parameters are the relative sea-level rise rate,mean tide range and the mean wave height. The Geographical Information System (GIS) is used for mapping the coastal vulnerability of various segments of the study area.