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Assessment of Urban Areas' Vulnerability to Flooding Using GIS and AHP Model Case Study: Qazvin City
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Sahar Danyali *  |
| Natural Disaster Research Institute, Tehran , sahar.danyali@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (27 Views) |
Objective:
With the rapid expansion of human communities and the increasing complexity of internal and external relationships, managing and planning to mitigate disasters and their impacts on human settlements has become an essential issue. Given the increasing vulnerability of urban settlements to natural hazards and the critical role of floods in natural ecosystems, this study aims to identify the factors influencing flood vulnerability and assess the vulnerability levels of different areas in Qazvin City through flood hazard zoning maps.
Research Methodology:
This study is applied-developmental in nature and employs a descriptive-analytical approach. In the first step, key indicators affecting flood vulnerability were extracted through a comprehensive review of scientific sources. Then, two primary criteria—vulnerability and exposure—along with their relevant sub-criteria were identified and analyzed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to assign weights to these criteria and sub-criteria, and the relevant data were processed within the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. By integrating the information layers and applying the derived weights, flood hazard zoning maps for Qazvin City were generated. The final output of this process was a flood hazard zoning map for Qazvin City, enabling the identification of high-risk areas and the proposal of management strategies to reduce vulnerability.
Findings:
The study identifies a set of variables for assessing flood vulnerability and their impacts. The analysis revealed that the southern and western regions of Qazvin are the most vulnerable to flooding, with a significant portion of the city's area classified as highly vulnerable. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive planning and the adoption of advanced technologies for flood risk management. The suggested technologies include advanced meteorological forecasting systems, GIS-based flood hazard mapping, remote sensing for flood-prone area monitoring, drones for damage assessment, communication technologies for timely alerts, and machine learning algorithms for more accurate flood prediction. The integration of these technologies can significantly enhance flood management and reduce the vulnerability of at-risk areas.
Conclusion:
Given Qazvin’s location in a lowland area and the influence of runoff from precipitation, assessing flood vulnerability and implementing effective flood risk management is crucial. To mitigate flood damage, this study recommends strategies such as reducing urban density in river buffer zones, renovating deteriorated urban fabrics, enhancing street permeability, and optimizing the location of critical land uses. Implementing these measures can significantly reduce the financial and human losses caused by floods.
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| Keywords: Vulnerability, Risk Exposure, Flood, Geographic Information System (GIS) |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/01/12 | Accepted: 2025/07/2
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