A GIS Based Quick Assessment Method of Flood Vulnerability: Susurluk Basin Case

There are various methods available for evaluating flood risk in a basin, ranging from identifying high-risk areas to analyzing the frequency and magnitude of potential flooding events. Our approach utilizes readily available spatial data to discern vulnerable locations to flooding of varying levels. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria evaluation technique was applied in the Susurluk River basin of Turkey using factors were analyzed such as land use, precipitation, elevation, drainage density, slope, soil, and topographic wetness index. Annual precipitation emerged as the most significant factor in our predictive model, with a weight value of 36%. For slope, land use type, elevation, and drainage density, the weighted values were weighted at 23%, 6%, 12%, and 11%, respectively. The results showed that 88.31% of the basin exhibited vulnerability to flooding, whereas only 0.83% demonstrated resilience. These findings can inform policymakers in their decision-making regarding land planning. As such, this study underscored the importance of flood vulnerability assessments in identifying regions that require additional attention in implementing prevention measures and early warning systems.