Using Sentinel-2 and Open-Source Crowdsourcing Data to Analyze Environmental Impacts of Floods in Northern Sudan

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, resulting in the displacement of 12 million people and limiting access to humanitarian aid and other resources. The intense rainfall rate this year has worsened the crisis, particularly after the Arbaat Dam collapsed, causing extreme damage to urban and rural areas. This paper presents a preliminary visualization and impact risk analysis of this year’s floods in Sudan, focusing on areas in Northern Khartoum like Abuhamad and North. Sentinel-2 satellite images and open-source intelligence (OSINT) crowdsourcing data were used to analyze the time frame of flooding events, the affected areas, and the environmental threats they pose. Normalized Difference Index (NDWI) and Modified NDWI (MNDWI) were used to detect flooded areas and water contamination. The analysis shows potential contamination threats from mining activities and oil spills in Abuhamad and Northern Khartoum, posing risks to water sources and human lives. This study also analyzes the impacted areas following the collapse of the Arbaat Dam. The challenges faced in this study include difficulties in conducting field studies and a lack of resources due to the ongoing conflict.