Evaluation methodology and application of living shorelines based on analytic hierarchy process

To address the technical and management requirements for living shoreline restoration, a living shoreline evaluation methodology was developed by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), based on the living shoreline evaluation indicator system. This method was demonstrated through a case study of the Sheyang Marine Ecological Protection and Restoration Project. A hierarchical structure consisting of criterion layer, primary indicators, and secondary indicators was constructed. Based on the application scenarios of living shoreline restoration technology, a weighting system for four types of evaluation indicators was established, including administrative units, production shorelines, residential shorelines, and ecological shorelines. By incorporating expert scoring for indicator weights, a differentiated weighting approach was achieved, allowing flexible evaluations of the same group of indicators with multiple sets of weights, which aligned with the collaborative framework of development and protection for coastal restoration goals. The trial evaluation results from the Sheyang case indicated an improvement in the comprehensive evaluation index of living shoreline following the implementation of coastal restoration projects, with the recovery of intertidal biodiversity being key to the overall improvement. Future shoreline restoration and monitoring management should broaden their scope to adopt an integrated approach that encompasses coastal geomorphology, ecology, and economy for holistic restoration and sustainable development.