Flood-Hazard Assessment in the Messapios River Catchment (Central Evia Island, Greece) by Integrating GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process

This study presents a comprehensive flood-hazard assessment and mapping of the Messapios River catchment in Evia Island, Greece, utilizing a combination of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Geographic Information Systems (GISs). Flood-prone zones were identified based on five critical factors, which were determined to be the most influential in the watercourse when excessive discharge overwhelms the drainage network’s capacity: slope, elevation, proximity to stream channels, geological formations, and land cover. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to assign weights to these factors, while the final flood-hazard map was generated using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) method. The analysis revealed that 17.8% of the catchment, approximately 39 km2, falls within a very high flood-hazard zone, while 18.02% (38.91 km2) is classified as highly susceptible to flooding. The flood-prone areas are concentrated in the central, southern, and western parts of the study area, particularly at the lower reaches of the catchment, on both sides of the main streams’ channels, and within the gently sloping, low-lying fan delta of the river. The study area has high exposure to flood hazards due to the significant population of approximately 9000 residents living within the flood-prone zones, a fact that contributes to the area’s potential vulnerability. Additionally, critical infrastructure, including five industrial facilities, the Psachna General High School, the local Public Power Corporation substation, about 21 km of the road network, and 21 bridges are located within the zones classified as having high and very high flood-hazard levels. Furthermore, about 35 km2 of economically vital agricultural areas (such as parts of the Psachna and Triada plains) are situated in highly and very highly prone to floods zones. MCDA proved to be an effective and reliable approach for assessing and mapping flood-hazard distribution in the Messapios River catchment. The results provide valuable insights to assist decision-makers in prioritizing intervention areas and efficiently allocate resources.