Flooding map
Floods are a severe environmental issue posing a threat to lives, property, and economic damage. Climate change is expected to increase flood hazard, threatening many areas worldwide. The arid zone, with high-intensity rainfall and flash floods, poses significant risks to human life, infrastructure, and natural phenomena. Pre-flood prevention, risk-mitigation measures, and preparedness are crucial for addressing these issues.
A flood map is a diagram that shows where floods is likely to occur.
Based primarily on historical data, topography, and other pertinent criteria,
it illustrates the scope and severity of probable floods in a certain area. Government
organizations, or local governments in charge of controlling flood risks
produce flood maps. These maps aid in locating flood-prone locations and
informing decisions about how to use land, how to respond to emergencies, and
how much insurance is needed.
Figure 1Flash flood hazard map for Wadi Nisah
To show varying levels of flood risk on flood maps, color-coded
zones are frequently used. For instance, high-risk regions may be designated as
"Special Flood Hazard Areas", whereas moderate-risk regions may be
designated as "Zone X" or "Zone B." In order to take the
necessary precautions, these classifications assist towns, businesses, and
households in understanding their flooding danger. To reflect changes in
weather patterns, land development, and other factors that may alter flood
hazards, flood maps are frequently updated. The ability to estimate one's
exposure to possible flooding disasters and take the required precautions to
preserve lives and property depends on them for both individuals and
organizations.
Flood hazards involve potential risks and damages caused by
flooding events, resulting in loss of life, property damage, and environmental
destruction. Mitigation methods include floodplain zoning, flood control
infrastructure, river channelization, flood forecasting and warning systems,
land use planning, flood-resistant building design, education and public
awareness campaigns, natural ecosystem restoration, and climate change
adaptation strategies. These methods help reduce the impacts of flooding events
and promote safer development in flood-prone areas. However, no single method
can completely eliminate flood hazards, and a combination of these approaches
can significantly reduce the risks and impacts associated with flooding events.
Flood hazard management involves assessing and mitigating flood
impacts, identifying vulnerable areas for early warning, quick response, and
reducing flood events. Recent integrations include remote sensing technology,
GIS, and field surveys for flash flood hazard mapping. Case studies worldwide use techniques for assessing flood hazard
using morphometric analysis, peak runoff estimation, and flash flood mapping.
These methods involve topographic, soil, socio-economic, and metrological
aspects, integrating GIS, Remote Sensing, and Rainfall-Runoff modelling.
Flood mitigation measures are often inadequately designed and
implemented, often due to inadequate structures and human interference. These
factors can cause significant flooding or exaggeration. Typically, mitigation
measures are focused on upstream catchment areas, away from monuments. There
are two types of measures for flood mitigation: structural and non-structural
measurements, which involve various works and interventions aimed at
controlling or reducing flood peak. Land use planning, constructions, and
structure management codes can contribute to flood-related problems mitigation.