The Risk of Coastline Erosion to the City of Leptis Magna Using GIS Techniques

Abstract

The research addressed the risk of erosion of the coastline of
the Greater City of Leptis, located about 3 km east of the city of
Al-Khoms, as it is one of the three ancient cities (Leptissimo,
Oia, and Sabratha), which constituted a cultural heritage and an
important economic resource. Therefore, the study aimed to
measure the rate of erosion of the coastline through what is
available. From aerial photographs issued by the Libyan Survey
Authority for the year 1966 and recent Google Earth images for
the year 2022, in order to compare the extent of change of the
coastline over the past 56 years using geographic information
systems (GIS) programs, and to prepare a database on the nature
of the geomorphology of the city’s coast and the movement of
marine waters (waves, tides, and marine currents) as one of the
most important factors in eroding the coastline that carries the
northern features of the ancient city, such as the port, the ancient
square, and the temples, and presenting them To develop
appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of erosion on the city’s
archaeological landmarks.
 Several research approaches were also relied upon, the most
important of which is the descriptive and analytical approach to
describe and analyze the causes of coastline erosion. The
historical approach: to present the history of the city’s
emergence, and to trace the change in the coastline due to
erosion over the previous years.