International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST)

Geospatial Analysis of the Tourism Carrying Capacity of Marina Beach, Chennai, India

Abstract Marina Beach in Chennai is among the most intensively used urban shorelines in South Asia, yet its tourism carrying capacity under conditions of rapid urbanization, shoreline change, and increasing visitor pressure remains under‑examined in a geospatially explicit manner. This paper develops an integrated framework to estimate the physical, real, and effective carrying capacity of Marina Beach over the period 2001–2025 by combining multi‑temporal remote sensing, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) outputs, and a Boullon‑type mathematical model of visitor capacity. Multi‑sensor satellite data from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 8 OLI, and Sentinel‑2 are used to delineate the shoreline, compute usable recreational area, and detect spatial patterns of accretion and erosion along the approximately 6 km stretch between the Cooum River mouth and the Lighthouse. The Boullon‑based model distinguishes physical carrying capacity, real carrying capacity adjusted for meteorological and geomorphic constraints, and effective carrying capacity incorporating management efficiency, using parameters grounded in the literature on beach standards, visitor turnover, climatic constraints, shoreline retreat, and infrastructure performance. Results indicate a decline in usable beach area from approximately 1.35 million m² in 2001 to about 1.15 million m² by 2025. The paper highlights the value of integrating geospatial shoreline analysis with carrying capacity models for urban beach management. real‑time monitoring as key strategies to maintain usage within environmentally and socially acceptable limits. Keywords: tourism carrying capacity; Marina Beach; shoreline change; geospatial analysis; coastal management.