Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

Assessment of the flooding situation in the cities of Khuzestan province

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mehdi Safari Namivandi
Amin Police University
10.22034/gahr.2025.514247.2433
Abstract
Flooding is one of the natural hazards that threatens many cities in Iran, including those in Khuzestan Province. Given that floods are always associated with significant human and financial losses, the purpose of this study is to identify flood-prone areas in Khuzestan Province and then assess the flood situation in its cities. In this research, MODIS, CHIRPS satellite images and 30-meter digital elevation model were used as the most important research data. The most important research tools were Google Earth Engine system and ArcGIS, Expert Choice and TerrSet software. In this research, using the OWA-AHP model, the flood-prone areas in Khuzestan province were identified and the flood-prone status of its cities was assessed. Based on the results obtained, about 65% of the area of Khuzestan province, which mainly includes the central and southern regions of this province, has high flood-surge potential due to its low elevation and slope and proximity to rivers. The results of this study also showed that out of a total of 43 cities in Khuzestan Province, 14 cities are in the very high flood potential class, 16 cities are in the high flood potential class, 12 cities are in the low flood potential class, and only one city is in the low flood potential class. The overall results of this study have shown that many cities in Khuzestan Province are at risk of flooding, so it is necessary to reduce the probability of flooding in this province by using structural and non-structural measures.
Keywords
Floods
Cities of Khuzestan Province
OWA-AHP

Subjects

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Geography and Human Relationships
Volume 7, Issue 4 - Serial Number 28
Winter 2025
Pages 299-315

  • Receive Date 28 March 2025
  • Revise Date 29 March 2025
  • Accept Date 18 May 2025