Resilience by the Sea: Coastline Evolution in Latina, Latium

Coastal erosion represents a pervasive issue affecting numerous coastal regions, stemming from both natural phenomena and anthropogenic activities. Notably, a substantial proportion, approximately 70%, of sandy beaches globally exhibit a retreating trend. This study aims to clarify the coastal erosion dynamics that have undergone significant transformation in recent decades, exerting a profound impact on the coastal systems along the Italian peninsula. Specifically, this study investigates a segment of the Lazio coastline corresponding to the Foce Verde—Rio Martino beach area in the Latina municipality. Geographic Information System (GIS) software, such as ArcGIS Pro 3.5.0, was employed for geospatial data acquisition, enabling the precise delineation and documentation of shoreline fluctuations within this coastal expanse spanning from 2003 to 2019 (the inclusion criteria for the core research period of the Bachelor’ s thesis, along with the graduation year). The principal objective of this investigation is to furnish a comprehensive overview of the metamorphosis observed in the Latina coastline during the specified temporal interval. This analysis will encompass an evaluation of the coastal defense mechanisms employed, encompassing both “hard” (engineered structures) and “soft” (natural or nature-based) interventions, within this temporal context.