HISTORICAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT: SPATIAL EXPANSION OF GHERGHIȚA VILLAGE (LOWER PRAHOVA RIVER)

Abstract

This paper analyses settlements expansion in flood zones during historical time. We focused on the example of Gherghiţa village on Lower Prahova River by using a diachronic study in GIS. It revealed three major periods of extension of Gherghița village and flood risk management: (1) from Middle Age to the end of the 19th century – prevention against floods by expansion outside the flood-prone area; (2) during the major part of the 20th – flood negligence by expansion inside the flood-prone area; (3) at the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21th century – protection against floods by extension inside the flood-prone area with structural measures (i.e. levees). As a consequence, human pressure on Lower Prahova River grew since the beginning of the 20th century, especially for agricultural purposes.

Keywords

• diachronic approach (Middle Age – 21th century)
• flood-prone area
• prevention / protection
• human pressure
• GIS