Flash Flood Susceptibility Mapping Using Geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Process Modeling-A Study of Wadi Habban Basin, Shabwah, Yemen

Abstract

Flash floods are among the most dangerous natural disasters, as they cause widespread damage to property and loss of lives, especially in desert and mountainous areas. This study aims to evaluate the Wadi Habban basin to be exposed to the risk of sudden floods using remote sensing data, geographic information systems (GIS), and the pyramid analysis methodology (AHP). The spatial distribution of hazardous areas has been evaluated through the weight and reclassification of ten main criteria that include geomorphology, elevation, slope, rainfall, drainage density, distance to watercourse, land use and land cover, soil texture, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and Stream Power Index (SPI), were integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. The analysis classified the basin into five risk categories: 4.3% (very high), 10.2% (high), 29.4% (medium), 42.2% (low), and 13.7%. (very low). The results revealed that 14.5% of the basin area is exposed to severe and high floods, which confirms the necessity of protective strategies, such as constructing flood barriers near vulnerable valleys and enhancing infrastructure and drainage systems. These results provide essential insights for disaster preparedness and infrastructure development, serving as a significant reference for policymakers and planners to enhance flood risk management and mitigate susceptibility in analogous settings.