Assessing the impact index of urbanization index on urban flood risk

Abstract

The process of urbanization has changed overall Land use/Land cover patterns which are being attributed to flooding and resulting in the economic damages from flooding events. This current study aims to evaluate the implication of spatiotemporal changes of LULC Pattern on the flood risk of Surat city (Gujarat, India), Lower Tapi Basin. The Topographical maps and satellite imagery of Resources-1 of the year 1968 and the year 2006 respectively are used for analyses the urbanization index. As the flood risk is a combination of flood hazard, and vulnerability of the urbanized area, flood losses are expected to rise due to change in each of these aspects. The remote sensing and spatial analysis tools of Geographic Information System (GIS) have been used to statistically examine the flood risk index along with their different land-use scenarios. It has been observed that other than natural processes, rapid urbanization obstructions are being considered as one of the main drivers of flood risk aggravation, and if so, it has made essential for the implementation of flood management approach at the top priority for reducing the risk of flood.