An Integrated Flood Risk Assessment Model for Cities Located in the Transitional Zone between Taihang Mountains and North China Plain: A Case Study in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Qiang Liu,Hongmao Yang,Rui Sun,Min Liu,Junhai Zhang

doi:10.3390/atmos10030104

Abstract

Cities located in the transitional zone between Taihang Mountains and North China plain run high flood risk in recent years, especially urban waterlogging risk. In this paper, we take Shijiazhuang, which is located in this transitional zone, as the study area and proposed a new flood risk assessment model for this specific geographical environment. Flood risk assessment indicator factors are established by using the digital elevation model (DEM), along with land cover, economic, population, and precipitation data. A min-max normalization method is used to normalize the indices. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is used to determine the weight of each normalized index and the geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis tool is adopted for calculating the risk map of flood disaster in Shijiazhuang. This risk map is consistent with the reports released by Hebei Provincial Water Conservancy Bureau and can provide reference for flood risk management.

Highlights

Floods are one of the most common natural hazards in the world, which cause serious losses in lives and damage to buildings and infrastructures
Considering the frequent flood history, geographical location, and climate characteristics of Shijiazhuang, a flood risk assessment model is in urgent need in dealing with the potential flood risk
Precipitation is included in hazard, while the flooding in the transitional zone between Taihang

Summary

Introduction

Floods are one of the most common natural hazards in the world, which cause serious losses in lives and damage to buildings and infrastructures. In the context of global warming and rapid urbanization, the increased frequency of floods leads to more life and economic losses [1,2]. Part of these floods are urban waterlogging. Monitoring and assessing the flood risk timely and accurately in the flood-prone area is of great importance in preventing watershed disasters and mitigating economic losses

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion