Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
Geography
First Advisor
Jean T. Ellis
Abstract
Coastal regions have historically been integral to geographic research given the complex interactions among physical processes, ecological systems, human activities, and socio-economic dynamics. As global populations in low-elevation coastal zones increase, understanding the coupled human-natural dynamics becomes essential for effective hazard mitigation. This dissertation presents an analytical framework that combines high-resolution remote sensing, image classification, landscape metrics, and geomorphometry to characterize the composition, configuration, and morphodynamic trajectories of coastal systems. The research investigates multi-scale dynamics in managed and unmanaged coastal environments by integrating diverse data sources to analyze spatial and temporal variability. The framework is implemented through three distinct research components in South Carolina. First, the spatial structures of managed and unmanaged dune systems are quantified and identified through optimized grid-based metrics. Second, a decadal analysis of the Grand Strand region evaluates how nourishment and accompanying management strategies reshape dune development trajectories and influence responses to high-energy events. Third, storm-scale morphodynamic processes are investigated using four years of UAS-based surveys along Hobcaw Beach, examining how antecedent barrier island morphology governs contemporary sediment transport and geomorphic change under coupled hydraulic-aeolian forcings. By synthesizing theoretical concepts and empirical data at storm-scales, this dissertation demonstrates that integrating remote sensing and geospatial analyses within a hexagon-based framework provides a scalable approach for characterizing, monitoring, and modeling geomorphic dynamics across diverse human and environmental settings. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for developing resilient coastal management strategies in an era of intensifying environmental uncertainty.
Rights
© 2026, Youngjae Kim
Recommended Citation
Kim, Y.(2026). Characterizing Spatiotemporal Dynamics in Beach-dune Systems Under Anthropogenic and High Energy Forcings. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8929