Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities
Flash floods pose a significant threat to Bangladesh; in particular, on 20 August 2024, the Feni district experienced a major flash flood, affecting more than 550,000 people and causing widespread damage. To effectively mitigate the impacts of flash floods, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Sajib Sarker Israt Jahan Xin Wang Abul Azad |
| author_facet | Sajib Sarker Israt Jahan Xin Wang Abul Azad |
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| description | Flash floods pose a significant threat to Bangladesh; in particular, on 20 August 2024, the Feni district experienced a major flash flood, affecting more than 550,000 people and causing widespread damage. To effectively mitigate the impacts of flash floods, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive flash flood vulnerability assessment, incorporating multiple triggering factors. This study aims to assess flash flood vulnerability in the Feni District through a unique approach, integrating various dimensions of vulnerability. The study utilizes a geospatial methodology, employing the formula of vulnerability developed by UNESCO-IHE. Four dimensions of vulnerability were analyzed: social, physical, economic, and environmental. For each dimension, specific variables were selected to assess exposure, susceptibility, and resilience. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assign weights to these variables. The geospatial layers of influencing vulnerability factors were integrated together to create flash flood vulnerability maps of four dimensions. These were then overlaid to generate a composite flash flood vulnerability map. The analysis revealed a distinct spatial distribution of vulnerability across Feni District. In terms of environmental vulnerability due to flash flood, about 14% of the total area falls into the very highly vulnerable zone, whereas 13%, 8% and 5% of the study area were found to be very highly vulnerable regarding social, economic and physical aspects, respectively. The composite flash flood vulnerability map identified key vulnerability hotspots, with the most vulnerable unions (the smallest administrative unit in Bangladesh) being Feni Pourashava (68% very high), Sonagazi Paurashava (40% very high), and Nawabpur (32% very high), while the least vulnerable areas were Jailashkara (58% very low), Anandapur (81% very low), and Darbarpur (82% very low). The results show that the Feni District’s flash flood susceptibility varies significantly throughout the region, which provide crucial insights for policymakers and local authorities in order to identify vulnerability hotspots, prioritize interventions in vulnerable areas, enhance flash flood resilience, and implement adaptive strategies. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4fb44e79f97d4e7ca400ca34b0f4e82e2025-08-20T03:47:54ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642025-05-0114519410.3390/ijgi14050194Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of VulnerabilitiesSajib Sarker0Israt Jahan1Xin Wang2Abul Azad3Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chattogram 4349, BangladeshDepartment of Urban and Regional Planning, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chattogram 4349, BangladeshDepartment of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFlash floods pose a significant threat to Bangladesh; in particular, on 20 August 2024, the Feni district experienced a major flash flood, affecting more than 550,000 people and causing widespread damage. To effectively mitigate the impacts of flash floods, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive flash flood vulnerability assessment, incorporating multiple triggering factors. This study aims to assess flash flood vulnerability in the Feni District through a unique approach, integrating various dimensions of vulnerability. The study utilizes a geospatial methodology, employing the formula of vulnerability developed by UNESCO-IHE. Four dimensions of vulnerability were analyzed: social, physical, economic, and environmental. For each dimension, specific variables were selected to assess exposure, susceptibility, and resilience. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assign weights to these variables. The geospatial layers of influencing vulnerability factors were integrated together to create flash flood vulnerability maps of four dimensions. These were then overlaid to generate a composite flash flood vulnerability map. The analysis revealed a distinct spatial distribution of vulnerability across Feni District. In terms of environmental vulnerability due to flash flood, about 14% of the total area falls into the very highly vulnerable zone, whereas 13%, 8% and 5% of the study area were found to be very highly vulnerable regarding social, economic and physical aspects, respectively. The composite flash flood vulnerability map identified key vulnerability hotspots, with the most vulnerable unions (the smallest administrative unit in Bangladesh) being Feni Pourashava (68% very high), Sonagazi Paurashava (40% very high), and Nawabpur (32% very high), while the least vulnerable areas were Jailashkara (58% very low), Anandapur (81% very low), and Darbarpur (82% very low). The results show that the Feni District’s flash flood susceptibility varies significantly throughout the region, which provide crucial insights for policymakers and local authorities in order to identify vulnerability hotspots, prioritize interventions in vulnerable areas, enhance flash flood resilience, and implement adaptive strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/5/194flash floodPCAnatural hazardremote sensingvulnerabilityGIS |
| spellingShingle | Sajib Sarker Israt Jahan Xin Wang Abul Azad Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information flash flood PCA natural hazard remote sensing vulnerability GIS |
| title | Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities |
| title_full | Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities |
| title_fullStr | Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities |
| title_short | Geospatial Approach to Assess Flash Flood Vulnerability in a Coastal District of Bangladesh: Integrating the Multifaceted Dimension of Vulnerabilities |
| title_sort | geospatial approach to assess flash flood vulnerability in a coastal district of bangladesh integrating the multifaceted dimension of vulnerabilities |
| topic | flash flood PCA natural hazard remote sensing vulnerability GIS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/5/194 |
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