Spatial Planning Frameworks for Coastal Hazard Mitigation: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study presents a systematic literature review of spatial planning frameworks for coastal hazard mitigation, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A structured search of two academic databases, Scopus and Web of Science, covering the period 2016 to 2026 identified 368 records, of which 27 peer-reviewed studies were included in the final synthesis. The review pursues four interrelated objectives: analyzing global publication trends in research on spatial planning for coastal hazard mitigation; identifying and describing coastal hazard typologies and their associated mitigation approaches; examining how spatial planning frameworks are integrated with hazard mitigation strategies; and synthesizing cross-cutting constructs that structure an integrative analytical model. Findings reveal a marked intensification of scholarly output over the final third of the review period, with Asia–Pacific and Europe as the most represented regions, while sub-Saharan Africa and small island developing states remain critically underrepresented. Coastal hazards are classified into four categories: slow-onset climate and hydro-geological processes, acute hydro-meteorological events, multi-risk systemic hazard interactions, and ecological and environmental degradation. Three analytically distinct integration families are identified: geospatial and technical modeling, NbS and ecosystem-planning integration, and participatory governance and institutional integration. From these, four cross-cutting constructs emerge inductively across the evidence base, namely spatial risk assessment and geospatial modeling, land-use governance and climate-proof planning, community-based resilience and participatory governance, and ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solutions, which together constitute an integrative analytical framework. The discussion demonstrates that governance capacity, rather than technical sophistication, is the primary moderator of implementation effectiveness, and that socio-spatial equity in hazard planning represents a cross-regional challenge irrespective of governance capacity level. Limitations include the geographic concentration of the evidence based in high-capacity planning contexts and the predominantly projected rather than implemented nature of effectiveness evidence.