Enhancing Coastal Management Through the Modified Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach and Power Dynamics Consideration

This study enhances coastal vulnerability assessment by introducing a Modified Fuzzy DEMATEL technique that incorporates socio-ecological and power dynamic considerations. The novelty of the study lies in integrating causal analysis with a participatory vulnerability framework tailored to coastal management. By analyzing multiple natural and socio-economic parameters, the results identify land use and land cover as the most influential factors, highlighting a shift toward socio-economic prioritization. The model also acknowledges limitations due to reliance on expert judgment and the absence of ground-truth validation. Our findings emphasize the need for location-specific vulnerability models rather than universal frameworks, offering insights for future participatory and evidence-based coastal management strategies.