GIS and remote sensing based flood risk assessment and mapping: The case of Dikala Watershed in Kobo Woreda Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The most destructive natural disasters that harm both natural and man-made features on the surface of the world are floods. The study area, which is located in the low-lying areas of the Amhara Region, is characterized by intensive human activity, a steep slope, heavy summertime rainfall with high drainage density and a predominance of verti soil type, as well as proximity to rivers, all of which have been identified as factors that increase the risk of flooding. For the examination of vulnerability, data on population and land use were employed, and data on flood depth were used for further analysis. The primary goal of the study was to evaluate the flood risk in the Dikala Watershed in the Kobo Woreda Amhara Region using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. This was accomplished by weighing the “vulnerability” and “hazard” elements that contribute to flooding individually at various degree levels using the rank-sum approach. Using a raster calculator, the final vulnerability and hazard index was multiplied to create the risk map. The study's key findings indicated that the danger and hazard of flooding were between “moderate” and “high.” Future land use and development activity should be done to reduce the risk of flooding in the study area using these flood risk maps for the river and the Dikala watershed.

Keywords

• Floods
• Environmental vulnerability
• GIS and remote sensing
• Dikala watershed
• Land use