Synergetic evolution mechanism of coastal resources utilization and coastline change of muddy coast in Jiangsu

Coastal areas possess unique geographical advantages and abundant resources, making them economic development hubs for coastal cities worldwide. However, the overexploitation of coastal resources significantly impedes the sustainable development of these areas. To address this issue, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of resource utilization patterns over time. Previous studies on resource utilization in the coastal areas of Jiangsu, China, have primarily relied on historical narratives with limited quantitative assessments. In this study, we utilize the Resource Utilization Comprehensive Index (RUCI) to evaluate the status of resource utilization in Jiangsu's coastal areas for the last 1300 years. Based on the characteristics of coastline changes from the Tang Dynasty to 1929 analyzed through the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) in ArcGIS, we use entropy weight method (EWM), gray relation analysis (GRA) and Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the RUCI of coastal areas in Jiangsu and analyze its correlation with each evaluation index and influencing factor. The results show that (1) over the past 1300 years, the coastline of Jiangsu primarily underwent a sedimentation process characterized by three stages: slow sedimentation, rapid sedimentation, and north erosion followed by south sedimentation, (2) the comprehensive utilization of resources along the Jiangsu coast was gradually developed from the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China, with the best utilization achieved during the Qing Dynasty, and (3) the changes in the coastline exhibited a substantial influence on the comprehensive utilization of resources and there was a high correlation between the two. Based on these findings, we propose several policy development suggestions. This study provides a scientific basis for understanding the synergetic evolution mechanism of coastal resources utilization and coastline change in Jiangsu under global change.