Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International

This study analyses the suitability of existing land use in the coastal area of Indramayu Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, in relation to the spatial pattern established in the 2011–2031 Regional Spatial Plan. The research was conducted in 11 coastal sub-districts using Google Earth imagery from 2023, field validation and spatial data from the Indramayu Regency spatial plan. Existing land use was interpreted through on-screen digitisation based on visual interpretation elements, including hue, texture, shape and object association. The interpreted land-use map was then overlaid with the spatial pattern map using Quantum GIS to identify areas classified as suitable, unsuitable or transitional. The results show that the coastal area contains 11 land-use types, including rice fields, fish and shrimp ponds, settlements, mangroves, industrial areas, rivers, roads, salt ponds, plantations, open land and harbour areas. Rice fields form the dominant land use, covering 44,345 ha, followed by fish and shrimp ponds covering 14,191 ha and settlement areas covering 4,487 ha. Overall, 58,310 ha of land use is consistent with the spatial pattern, while 7,976 ha is unsuitable and 2,189 ha is transitional. Unsuitable land use is mainly associated with the conversion of protected and agricultural areas into ponds, settlements and other uses. The recommended improvement direction is to maintain suitable land uses, restore transitional areas where feasible and control further expansion of unsuitable land uses.