Sea-level rise and spatial risk assessment of the coastal heritage sites in Bangladesh

This study assesses the spatial vulnerability of 184 cultural heritage sites across 19 coastal districts of Bangladesh through a GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and weighted overlay analysis. Six environmental parameters—Sea-Level Rise (SLR), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND), Surface Water Salinity (SWS), Surface Geology (SG), and Relative Humidity (RH)—were integrated with respective AHP-derived weights of 34%, 25%, 15%, 10%, 9%, and 7%. These parameters were selected for their direct relevance to coastal susceptibility and SLR. The results reveal that 67.39% of heritage sites fall under High Risk, 27.72% under Moderate Risk, 3.26% under Very High Risk, and only 1.63% under Low Risk, with no sites classified as Very Low Risk. Spatial distribution analysis highlights Satkhira, Khulna, and Bagerhat as major vulnerability hotspots. The findings emphasize the need for region-specific heritage conservation and adaptive management strategies to address escalating climate-induced risks along Bangladesh’s coastal zone.