Remote Sensing and GIS Application in Flood Risk Mapping and Disaster Mitigation

Abstract

Floods are among the most devastating natural hazards, arising from extreme geophysical events that pose significant threats to human life, infrastructure, and the environment. The risk associated with flooding stems from the unpredictability of such events and their potential to adversely impact human welfare. Effective flood management planning is therefore critical for reducing disaster impacts, facilitating timely rescue operations, and implementing preventive strategies. The city of Tufanganj in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India, has experienced increasingly frequent flood events in recent years. In this context, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer a powerful tool for planners to enhance flood risk assessment and management. GIS-based techniques enable the development of land suitability analyses and flood zone mapping, which are essential components in urban planning and disaster preparedness. This study aims to assess the spatial impact of flooding in Tufanganj using digital elevation data. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM), sourced from the Bhuvan portal (ISRO), was processed using SAGA GIS tools for terrain correction, sink filling, and watershed delineation. The processed DEM enabled the identification of flood-prone zones and potential water flow paths. The findings provide a scientifically sound methodology for flood mapping and risk evaluation, supported by illustrative flood inundation maps. This approach helps to pinpoint high-risk areas, thereby facilitating the evacuation and protection of vulnerable populations during flood events.