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Volume 15, Issue 3 (Autumn 2025)
Disaster Prev. Manag. Know. 2025, 15(3): 266-291 |
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Najafi E, Gholami F, Gholami A. Flood Risk Zoning Using the Flood Hazard Index: Case Study of Lowmar Sub-watershed of Seymareh, Ilam Province, Iran. Disaster Prev. Manag. Know. 2025; 15 (3) :266-291
URL: http://dpmk.ir/article-1-732-en.html
URL: http://dpmk.ir/article-1-732-en.html
1- Department of Geomorphology, School of Earth Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
2- Department of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
3- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
3- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (572 Views)
Background and Objective Floods, as one of the most devastating natural disasters, can affect human life, infrastructure, environment, and economies. The Lowmar sub-watershed of Seymareh, located in Ilam Province, southwestern Iran, is one of the areas vulnerable to floods due to its specific geographical location and climatic conditions. This study aims to identify flood-prone areas within this sub-watershed and propose strategies to reduce flood-related risks.
Method This is a descriptive-analytical study. Flood-prone areas in the Lowmar sub-watershed were assessed using the flood hazard index (FHI), considering eight hydro-geomorphological and climatic parameters: Slope, drainage network density, distance from rivers, land use, lithology, elevation, rainfall, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model was used to analyze the data and determine the weight of each parameter. The required data were prepared from satellite images, digital elevation models, and meteorological data, and processed in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. After integrating the maps of various parameters, a final flood zoning map was produced, categorizing the area into five risk severity levels: Very high, high, moderate, low, and very low.
Results The most critical factors influencing flood risk in the study area were slope, rainfall, vegetation cover, and land use type. Over 60% of the Sub-Watershed area falls within a flood risk range from moderate to very high, especially in the central and western areas. Additionally, 40.5% of the villages in this area, as well as three towns—Lowmar, Sarab-Kalan, and Siah-Siah—were located in regions with high and very high flood risk. Roads in the western part of the Sub-Watershed were also exposed to flood hazards, which require preventive and managerial actions.
Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of urban planning, preventive measures, and flood risk management in the Lowmar sub-watershed. The preventive measures include strengthening infrastructure, improving land-use planning, increasing vegetation cover, and educating local communities for flood preparedness.
Method This is a descriptive-analytical study. Flood-prone areas in the Lowmar sub-watershed were assessed using the flood hazard index (FHI), considering eight hydro-geomorphological and climatic parameters: Slope, drainage network density, distance from rivers, land use, lithology, elevation, rainfall, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model was used to analyze the data and determine the weight of each parameter. The required data were prepared from satellite images, digital elevation models, and meteorological data, and processed in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. After integrating the maps of various parameters, a final flood zoning map was produced, categorizing the area into five risk severity levels: Very high, high, moderate, low, and very low.
Results The most critical factors influencing flood risk in the study area were slope, rainfall, vegetation cover, and land use type. Over 60% of the Sub-Watershed area falls within a flood risk range from moderate to very high, especially in the central and western areas. Additionally, 40.5% of the villages in this area, as well as three towns—Lowmar, Sarab-Kalan, and Siah-Siah—were located in regions with high and very high flood risk. Roads in the western part of the Sub-Watershed were also exposed to flood hazards, which require preventive and managerial actions.
Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of urban planning, preventive measures, and flood risk management in the Lowmar sub-watershed. The preventive measures include strengthening infrastructure, improving land-use planning, increasing vegetation cover, and educating local communities for flood preparedness.
Keywords: Flood zoning, Hydro-geomorphological parameters, Geographic information system (GIS), Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), Lowmar sub-watershed of Seymareh
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2024/12/9 | Accepted: 2025/02/15 | ePublished: 2025/10/1
Received: 2024/12/9 | Accepted: 2025/02/15 | ePublished: 2025/10/1
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