Flood susceptibility assessment using multi-criteria analysis: Case Study in Selangor, Putrajaya, and Kuala Lumpur

Abstract This study discusses flood assessment that makes use of the geographic information system (GIS) technology to provide a thorough identification of flood susceptibility zones in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya. Using MCA-GIS, flood susceptibility zones were delineated based on environmental factors such as precipitation, TWI, distance from the river, elevation, slope, land cover, and flow accumulation. To verify the framework’s accuracy and dependability, comparisons with historical flood events were used to validate the flood susceptibility zones. The findings indicate that almost 13.9% of the study area is extremely susceptible to flooding, with the highest risk concentrated in the upstream and downstream regions of the Selangor River. Only 0.1% of the region was deemed to be at very low risk, indicating widespread flood susceptibility. As over 46% (very high susceptibility and high susceptibility) of the study areas are classified as flood-prone areas, stakeholders must prioritise appropriate precautions to lessen the impact of catastrophic flood events. The generated flood susceptibility zone maps can be used by urban planners and risk management professionals as a crucial source of information.