Assessing Spatial Flood Vulnerability at Kalapara Upazila in Bangladesh Using an Analytic Hierarchy Process.

Muhammad Hoque,Naser Ahmed,Saima Tasfia,Biswajeet Pradhan

doi:10.3390/s19061302

Muhammad Hoque, Naser Ahmed + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061302

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Abstract

Floods are common natural disasters worldwide, frequently causing loss of lives and huge economic and environmental damages. A spatial vulnerability mapping approach incorporating multi-criteria at the local scale is essential for deriving detailed vulnerability information for supporting flood mitigation strategies. This study developed a spatial multi-criteria-integrated approach of flood vulnerability mapping by using geospatial techniques at the local scale. The developed approach was applied on Kalapara Upazila in Bangladesh. This study incorporated 16 relevant criteria under three vulnerability components: physical vulnerability, social vulnerability and coping capacity. Criteria were converted into spatial layers, weighted and standardised to support the analytic hierarchy process. Individual vulnerability component maps were created using a weighted overlay technique, and then final vulnerability maps were produced from them. The spatial extents and levels of vulnerability were successfully identified from the produced maps. Results showed that the areas located within the eastern and south-western portions of the study area are highly vulnerable to floods due to low elevation, closeness to the active channel and more social components than other parts. However, with the integrated coping capacity, western and south-western parts are highly vulnerable because the eastern part demonstrated particularly high coping capacity compared with other parts. The approach provided was validated by qualitative judgement acquired from the field. The findings suggested the capability of this approach to assess the spatial vulnerability of flood effects in flood-affected areas for developing effective mitigation plans and strategies.

Highlights

Floods are regarded as among the most devastating hydro-meteorological natural disasters.These disasters often cause tremendous economic and environmental damages and loss of lives [1,2,3].The United Nations (UN) report states that approximately 2.3 billion people were affected and 157,000 died by floods in 1995–2015 worldwide [4]
This study aims to develop and examine a multi-criteria-integrated approach of spatial vulnerability mapping to assess flood effects using Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) incorporating information produced from spatial analysis integrating GIS and statistical analysis, optical remote sensing and field data on Sensors 2019, 19, x FOR PEER REVIEW
This study presents a multi-criteria-incorporated approach of spatial flood vulnerability mapping using remote sensing, spatial analysis and field data at a local scale

Summary

Introduction

Floods are regarded as among the most devastating hydro-meteorological natural disasters.These disasters often cause tremendous economic and environmental damages and loss of lives [1,2,3].The United Nations (UN) report states that approximately 2.3 billion people were affected and 157,000 died by floods in 1995–2015 worldwide [4]. Floods are regarded as among the most devastating hydro-meteorological natural disasters These disasters often cause tremendous economic and environmental damages and loss of lives [1,2,3]. Several recent studies have predicted and expected that the occurrence rate and intensity of flood disasters are likely to be considerably increased under future climate change scenarios [5,6,7,8]. Other factors, such as rapid urbanisation, population growth and economic development, will intensify the flood risk areas worldwide [3]. People, properties and the environment will be under constant risk in the future

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