Yingchen Bu, Weilun Gao, Qin Zhu, Zhiming Ru, Zhenchang Zhu (2026). "Advances in Tidal Creek Extraction: A Comprehensive Review and Decision Framework for Method Selection." Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 12: 0536.
Abstract:
Tidal creeks are fundamental geomorphic and ecological structures in coastal wetlands, yet their complex morphology and rapid dynamics make accurate extraction a persistent challenge. Earlier studies mainly emphasized manual delineation or semiautomatic extraction methods and explored morphological indicators of tidal creek networks. With the rapid advances in remote sensing and computational technologies, recent work has enabled automated recognition of complex tidal creek systems, providing new opportunities for monitoring their dynamics and ecological roles. In this review, we identify key milestones in tidal creek extraction research by linking methodological evolution with the expansion of application fields, data sources, and algorithms. Specifically, we synthesize the historical development of tidal creek studies and summarize the characteristics of morphological indicators and extraction results. We further analyze the principles, strengths, and limitations of manual, semiautomatic, and fully automatic approaches. On this basis, we propose a decision framework that links tidal creek morphology, data availability, terrain complexity, and computational resources to appropriate extraction strategies, thereby supporting robust and transferable method selection. This review provides theoretical and methodological insights to strengthen tidal creek mapping and to enhance monitoring, ecological assessment, and restoration of coastal wetlands.