1.2 Methodology
1.2.1 Aerial view and preliminary survey
The coastal region was surveyed thoroughly with the aid of an aerial map obtained from
Google Earth. Hence, accessible site and potential hazards were identified prior visits. In
addition, the tide schedule was used to identify the best date and time for the coast visits.
By using Emery rod method, the beach profiles for two beaches were measured. The
profile measurement was done at the lowest tide level possible to get better data. Besides,
intense observations throughout the coastal region were done and studied.
2 Locality Description
The coastal region covered is between Kuala Baram and Luak bay of the coast. There are
three localities that have been chosen for this study. All of the sites visited are described
as below:
It has approximately 600 meters long beach. The relief is significantly changing landward
due the presence of past tectonic activities at the area that resulted in an upliftment of
Miri Hill. In the southwest direction, there is a rock cliff exposure of 30 meters height
which was once a part of Miri Hill before it eroded away. The evidence of this beach
formation is shown by the different vegetation types that exist at the beach and the cliff
(fig. 1).
Two little streams are observed here. One of it is an active drainage system where the
surface runoff from the surrounding is channelled into this man-made stream. Flow rate
of the stream was measured during the visit and displayed below (fig. 3). Another stream
is a stagnant stream originated from the native vegetation area. Furthermore, many logs
are scattered in and around the stream blocking the water flow.
5m
0.453 m
The vegetation observed along the studied locality is shown in figure 5. Meanwhile, the
presence and occurrence of these vegetations in the locality are summarized in table 2
below.
Figure 6: Collection of major vegetations found along the coast zone. A: Beach
morning glory (Ipomaea pes caprae) B: Coconut tree (Cocos nucifera). C(i)(ii): Beach
Rhu (Casuarina litorea). D(i): Mangrove tree at the rivermouth. D(ii) Baby mangrove
at the swamp near the coastal roadside. E) Grass (Poaceae). F) Tall grass (typha
angustifolia). G(i)(ii): Scaevola Plumieri. H) Agricultural plant at small scale behind
warehouse worker house at Kuala Baram.
Not seen
Table 2: The summary of vegetation presence at the three beaches and
their relatively distribution.
Negative
- Beach rendered to dirty.
- Destruction of vegetation and
marine life habitat.
Logs
Figure 7: Some pictures demonstrate the human activities currently happening along Miri
Coast. A: Land clearance by burning the vegetation area. B: Sea and river sediment dredging
for beach nourishment and land reclamation. C: Large ship boarding at the port at Kuala
Baram. D: Ship that fully loaded with logs. E: Boat construction activities for fishing and
recreational. E: Ship rope that stranded at the rip rap at Kuala Baram beach. G: Offshore rigs
and shipping activities observed from coast. H: Warehouse to keep the ship trade commodity.
I: A cement making factory at Kuala Baram.
2.6 Man-made structures and impact
2.6.1 Human development, residential facilities
Most of the features have been built as a comfort for better living. The features are as
listed below:
o Bridge
o Children playground
o Factories
o Fish market
o Housing / Residences
o Schools
o Recreational facilities
o Roads
Along the coastal zone that had been studied, the trend/density of development can be
directly correlated to the density of human population. More buildings or development
projects are signs of a highly populated area. As example, along the shore from Lutong
developments are low in density. Whereas, further upward to Baram river the
development gets moderately denser.
These structures could be further typecast into hard defenses and soft defenses. Hard
defenses are man-made rigid structures generally constructed with concrete and steel.
Whereas, defenses that are made of unconsolidated material such as sand are known as
soft defenses. Both are used as a coastal defense against erosion and flooding.
2.6.2.1 Rocks (Rip Rap) and wood revetments
Located along the coast, it separates the sandy beach from the vegetation line. The rocks
used are mostly limestone. However, at Tanjung Lobang, granite is more commonly
used. These rock are not common in Miri region, thus had to be imported. They are
designed so that the waves lose their energy breaking on the structure instead on the
beach. Further erosion could be prevented by dispersing the tide energy. At Kuala Baram
this rock revetment is covered by geotextiles believed to improve effectiveness.
Figure 8: Rock revetment (rip-rap) along the coastline. A: View from one
side of Kuala Baram beach. B; Geotextile that cover the rocks.
Furthermore, at Kuala Baram the rock revetments were not just aligned parallel to the
coast but also purposely aligned perpendicular to the coast (fig. 4). It is believed this has
been done to replicate the same working principle of a groyne but at a smaller scale.
Figure 9: Aligned rock revetment perpendicular to the coast. The
white arrows indicate the orientation direction of the rocks. Aii)Close-
up view of the rock revetment from the coast to seaward.
At Tanjung Lobang, there are logs that are vertically positioned half buried. This is
believed to obstruct the logs from entering the sea or scattering around beach.
2.6.2.2 Gabion
Mainly found at Tanjung Lobang, hard rocks are wrapped in heavily galvanized wire cage and
then stacked on one another to stabilize the slope against erosion and prevent cliff falls.
Besides that, there are signs of sediment replenishment activities observed at Tanjung
Lobang. It is almost unnoticeable at first as the foreign sand is relatively similar with the
existing sand. However, the remnant of sacks on the beach floor could be evidence of
sand replenishment activities. This is to ensure that the foreign sand can integrate with the
natural processes and thus enhance the beach.
Figure 11: Erosion defense and beach stabilization structure observed
along the studied coast. A: Gabions are placed along the highly erosive part
adjacent to the sea food restaurant. B: Groynes at Tanjung Lobang.
C: Sand bags are piled on top of another against the slope. D: Concrete
revetment fixed against the slope.
From the monthly tide schedule, a sinusoidal graph for August is illustrated and graph of
each tidal phase is deduced.
3.1.2 Graph
Diurnal Semidiurnal Diurnal Semidiurnal
New
Moon
Full Moon
Last First
Quarter
Based on the graphs, Miri has mixed tides which are mostly diurnal. The tidal range is
179 cm (microtidal). The tidal waves have moderate energy with parallel direction to
coastline except in embayment and river mouth. The direction is angled that it can be
observed from the ripple mark orientation along the beach.
3.1.4 Interpretation
Diurnal phase occurs due to the moon day not being equal to the solar day although in
most places, the moon finishes its cycle more than once in a solar day (called
semidiurnal). The large range of tide is due to a number of factors. Miri is located close to
the equator where the pull of the moon is the strongest during spring. The range changes
in response to the position of the sun and moon relative to Miri’s location. The coastal
shape also influences the tidal range. Miri’s coast faces the South China Sea, where the
size of the basin is considered large with varying water depths; and straight long
shorelines with wide continental shelves give larger tidal range. The range slightly
decreases where there are river mouths and embayment as the tide is affected by water
depth and river flow rate.
Placement of jetties along the coast will alter the pattern of longshore sediment transport.
It is the movement of sediment over long distances in a direction parallel to the shoreline.
This causes interference to sediments natural flow as natural supply of sediment to feed
the beach is decreased and river of sand becomes starved. Eventually results in narrower
beach. Example, in Kuala Baram.
Groynes at Tanjung Lobang, for instance will trap sediment updrift of the structure and
leaving less sediment to transport downdrift area, and creating more erosion.
This phenomenon can be seen along the Tanjung Lobang beach large volumes of sand
deposited higher up of the beach, thus believed to be overwash sediments. The spot is
deduced to be the updrift side based on the lithoral drive direction. It occurs as storm
water exceeds the adjacent land due to very low elevation, absence of dunes and sparse
vegetation covers.
Over wash
sediments
Figure 10: Over wash sediment that
deposited as fan shaped features at south-
west side of the beach.
Conversely, downdrift is believed to have happened on the north east side. Severe erosion
occurred even where sediment was nicely covered by vegetation root (fig 11). The water
could reach very high landward possibly due to combination of spring tide and heavy
monsoonal rain especially during November to February which is usually accompanied
by severe sea storms.
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Rivers supply sediment to the coast and human activities, such as damming for
hydroelectric power, can restrict the flow of sediment to the coast. Eventually, will cause
sediment starvation along the coast and aggravate erosion.
Although coastal region is part of Mother Nature, it still can face some threats from it.
Natural cycle can cause some damage to the coastal region.
Tide Change
Threats from Mother Nature can be as simple as tide changes to tsunami. Tide changes
cause erosion and, if not controlled properly, the erosion might get severe. Erosion can
speed up due to global warming effect and that is why basic defence like rip raps and
gabbions are built along coastline.
RIP Current
Sometime, RIP current occurs at the Tg. Lobang beach. This sometimes caused by the
groin built. RIP current has been proven fatal to human and can cause lost of lives.
Tsunami
As a whole, Miri coastline is still part of Borneo Island’s coastal region. Hyperbolic as it
may sound, Borneo as an island is still prone to mega threat such as Tsunami due to its
location. Any quakes at the trench line that can cause Tsunami surely can reach Borneo
Island. If a Tsunami ever going to reach the coast, Miri can go down just like Aceh.
Current Condition
Coastal region of Miri current condition can be described as acceptable at some of the beaches we
observed like Luak Bay and Tg. Lobang. Kuala Baram in the other hand can be described as in critical
need of facelift and coastal management.
Luak Bay and Tg. Lobang might be in an acceptable condition due to its tourism and recreational
importance. They are equipped with new and improved coastal defence measures compared to Lutong
beach and Kuala Baram.
Kuala Baram in contrast, has been the victim of industrial activities. The condition of the beach including
the coastal region can be described as not suitable for neither tourism nor recreation purposes. The
defence measure seems old and just enough to prevent severe erosion on the beach.
Future Threat
Future threat might be plentiful and more dangerous if proper management of the coastal zone is not
done.
Proposal of damn around Baram area also have been submitted to the government
(http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0218&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sabah_
Environmental Geosciences 302
%26_Sarawak&pg=wb_05.htm). This can cause sediment starvation to the beach area as its trapped at the
dam. Development of residential area at along the coastline like in Lutong might seem beautiful but it
also can possess danger to its community if suddenly big waves like tsunami ever happen.
Future Management
So, the government must start thinking long-term measure and planning instead of ignoring all these
threats. Development must be parallel to nature conservation.
Recreational and tourism activity at the beach must be constantly monitored especially in term of the
cleanliness of the beach. Strengthening of coastal defence also must be equal albeit the importance of the
beach to tourism or not.
Industrial activity must be controlled and critical areas like mangrove forest must be strictly preserved
from industrial activities. Strict control on the effluent that released to the open water also must be
implemented.
People safety
Future development
Sustainability entails a continuous process of decision making, so there is never an end-state just
a readjustment of the equilibrium between development and the protection of the environment[
Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge
Identifying their best uses and productivity and has stringent group of decision makers. Coastal
erosion that causes shoreline to retreat.
Exposure is likely to increase as sea level rises with climate change. In some locations future changes in
tropical storms and storm surges may further add to the risk of flooding. Projections of future change,
particularly if they include quantified risk assessment, give governments the opportunity to plan sea
defences and other infrastructure development
http://geology.uprm.edu/Morelock/morphol.htm
http://www.marine.tmd.go.th/marinemet_html/lect20.html
http://www.surfrider.org/structures/erosion.asp
http://www.marine.tmd.go.th/marinemet_html/lect20.html
Environmental Geosciences 302
http://www.slideshare.net/sharmapd1/coastal-erosion-and-its-control
Sustainable activity
Conclusion
building with natural processes and relying on natural elements such as sands, dunes and vegetation to
prevent erosive forces from reaching the backshore. These techniques include beach nourishment and sand dune
stabilization.
To better understand how fast the beach are changing and address property loss due to
erosion, or when beach nourishment makes sense.
Armoring the shoreline usually halts coastal erosion and protects property and
structures, but on shorelines undergoing long-term retreat
However, the effectiveness of this structure is questioned as some of the wire cage are disoriented and
causing some of the rocks to spill out.
However, one beach is more eroded compared to other. Some of the factors are:
Faces the ocean at proper angles will have higher erosion rate. As the angle more parallel
to the coast, more sediment transport occurs.
Besides, higher wind strength especially during north-east monsoonal season from
November to February would also accelerate the erosion.