Sea-Level Rise and Spatial Risk Assessment of the Coastal Heritage Sites in Bangladesh Using MCDM

Abstract This study presents a GIS-based assessment of climate-related risk for 184 cultural heritage sites across 19 coastal districts in Bangladesh using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with overlay weighting. Six parameters—Sea-Level Rise, Elevation (DEM), Height above Nearest Drainage, Salinity, Surface Geology, and Humidity—were selected for their relevance to coastal vulnerability and data availability, with AHP-derived weights ranging from 7–34%. Results reveal that 67% of sites face High Risk, 28% Moderate Risk, and 3% Very High Risk, with Satkhira, Jessore, and Chattogram identified as key hotspots. This study demonstrates a systematic, replicable framework for prioritizing heritage sites under climate stress, providing actionable insights for coastal heritage management in Bangladesh.