Development priority map for flood countermeasures by remote sensing data with geographic information system

Abstract

Bangladesh suffered damage on account of the most catastrophic floods of 1987, 1988, and 1998, resulting in untold suffering of the people. This paper demonstrates the technique to develop a flood hazard map and a land development priority map for counter-measures against flood damage. To create the final products, the flood hazard map and land development priority map. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data for the flood events of 1988, 1995, and 1998 were incorporated with geographic information system data. Flood-affected frequency and flood depth categories were estimated using NOAA AVHRR images. Special attention was paid to population density for the construction of the land development priority map, because highly dense populated areas represent the highly important urban and industrial areas of Bangladesh. The land development priority map offers a new opportunity for flood risk management, planning, design, and operation of flood control measures in Bangladesh, and should be useful in assigning priorities for the development of at-risk areas.