Flood hazard analysis in Mumbai using geospatial and multi-criteria decision-making techniques

Abstract

Flood risk assessment remains a crucial element, particularly within locations highly susceptible to repeated flood occurrences. This study seeks to conduct an elaborate flood risk analysis for Mumbai, India based on an integrated method of geographic information systems and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In this study, land use/land cover, average annual rainfall, elevation, drainage density, normalized difference vegetation index, distance from rivers as well as distance from roads are identified and considered. For this reason, the expert survey utilizes the AHP weights so as to find out the significance of these factors towards flooding danger. Investigations show a flood risk index and a corresponding map for Mumbai, where all areas are divided into risk zones very low to very high. ‘High’ risk or ‘Very High’ risks are particularly situated along the rivers. Such details offer critical knowledge to policymakers who will undertake informed emergency preparedness measures designed to shield Mumbai's citizens and assets. Therefore, this research is considered as one of the modern techniques flood risk evaluation, which can be applied in other flood-affected areas worldwide.