A Simplified Multi-Hazard Framework for the Protection of Coastal Salt Pond Systems

Coastal lagoon Salt Ponds are highly valuable wetland systems where traditional salt production coexists with ecosystems of significant ecological importance, often characterized by high environmental sensitivity. In data-scarce coastal settings, particularly those located near river channels and drainage networks, assessing multiple environmental hazards remains a major challenge. This study proposes a simplified and transferable methodological framework for multi-hazard assessment in coastal Salt Pond environments (DAFFLE; Data Acquisition Fluvial Flooding and Liquefaction Evaluation), with particular emphasis on areas where field data are limited and fluvial processes and seismic effects may interact. The approach integrates three main components: first, improved terrain modelling using global elevation datasets and ICESat-2 laser altimetry data to better represent very flat coastal areas; second, flood hazard simulation by modelling water depths under different flood scenarios to map potential inundation; third, liquefaction susceptibility is assessed using surficial geological data and key geomorphological parameters, producing simplified probabilistic hazard maps informed by existing seismic hazard datasets or scenario-based assumptions. The proposed framework provides a scalable and practical tool for first-order multi-hazard assessment in vulnerable coastal Salt Pond environments. It supports comparative hazard analyses and decision-making in regions where detailed site-specific data and extensive field investigations are not available, offering a consistent baseline for coastal lagoon Salt Pond risk evaluation and management.