GIS-Based Urban Flood Risk Assessment and Management—A Case Study of Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT), India

Abstract

Urban floods are very destructive and have significant socioeconomic repercussions in regions with a common flooding prevalence. Various researchers have laid down numerous approaches for analyzing the evolution of floods and their consequences. One primary goal of such approaches is to identify the areas vulnerable to floods for risk reduction and management purposes. The present paper proposes an integrated remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and field survey-based approach for identifying and predicting urban flood-prone areas. The work is unique in theory since the methodology proposed finds application in urban areas wherein the cause of flooding, in addition to heavy rainfall, is also the inefficient urban drainage system. The work has been carried out in Delhi’s Yamuna River National Capital Territory (NCT) area, considered one of India’s most frequently flooded urban centers, to analyze the causes of its flooding and supplement the existing forecasting models. Research is based on an integrated strategy to evaluate and map the highest flood boundary and identify the area affected along the Yamuna River NCT of Delhi. In addition to understanding the causal factors behind frequent flooding in the area, using field-based information, we developed a GIS model to help authorities to manage the floods using catchment precipitation and gauge level relationship. The identification of areas susceptible to floods shall act as an early warning tool to safeguard life and property and help authorities plan in advance for the eventuality of such an event in the study area.