Flood Risk Assessment for the Long-Term Strategic Planning Considering the Placement of Industrial Parks in Slovakia

Abstract

The intention of the article is to demonstrate how data from historical maps might be applied in the process of flood risk assessment in peri-urban zones located in floodplains and be complementary datasets to the national flood maps. The research took place in two industrial parks near the rivers Žitava and Nitra in the town of Vráble (the oldest industrial park in Slovakia) and the city of Nitra (one of the largest industrial parks in Slovakia, which is still under construction concerning the Jaguar Land Rover facility). The historical maps from the latter half of the 18th and 19th centuries and from the 1950s of the 20th century, as well as the field data on floods gained with the GNSSS receiver in 2010 and the Q100 flood line of the national flood maps (2017), were superposed in geographic information systems. The flood map consists of water flow simulation by a mathematical hydrodynamic model which is valid only for the current watercourse. The comparison of historical datasets with current data indicated various transformations and shifts of the riverbanks over the last 250 years. The results proved that the industrial parks were built up on traditionally and extensively used meadows and pastures through which branched rivers flowed in the past. Recent industrial constructions intensified the use of both territories and led to the modifications of riverbeds and shortening of the watercourse length. Consequently, the river flow energy increased, and floods occurred during torrential events in 2010. If historical maps were respected in the creation of the flood maps, the planned construction of industrial parks in floodplains could be limited or forbidden in the spatial planning documentation. This study confirmed that the flood modelling using the Q100 flood lines does not provide sufficient arguments for investment development groups, and flood maps might be supplied with the data derived from historical maps. The proposed methodology represents a simple, low cost, and effective way of identifying possible flood-prone areas and preventing economic losses and other damages.

National Level Land-Use Changes in Functional Urban Areas in Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia

“…Researchers most often investigate the effects of various factors on LUCC at the local level, as it is believed to be the key to understanding ongoing changes [16,17]. The most commonly discussed factor affecting local LUCC is local law [18] (such as the impact of spatial planning on LUCC through demarcation of zones at risk of floods in urban areas, where new housing development restrictions apply [19]; industrial areas [20]), past local land use, and the number of households [21][22][23]. Local changes can be associated with functional urban areas (FUAs), meaning a metropolis or urban agglomeration.…”

The Urban Environment Impact of Climate Change Study and Proposal of the City Micro-Environment Improvement

“…Nitra is one of the oldest and most important cities in Slovakia, spread on the Danube Uplands [38]. The city's sewer network has been under construction since about 1950 until today.…”

“…The city of Nitra is the fourth largest city in Slovakia, with a population density of 810 per square kilometer [39]. Nitra is one of the oldest and most important cities in Slovakia, spread on the Danube Uplands [38]. The city's sewer network has been under construction since about 1950 until today.…”

Flood Damage Assessment Using River Water Levels – a Case Study of a Town Located in the North Mazovian Lowland (Poland)

“…Historically, humans commonly settled in river valleys (Mihu-Pintilie et al, 2019; Grežo et al, 2020). Owing to fertile soils, not threatened by drought, these places enabled the development of agriculture.…”

“…Farmers were forced to protect their crops from flooding and to accept the losses that occurred after the flood. Today, such locations are still often used for farming, but excessive urbanization forces investors to estimate the extent of possible financial losses (Grežo et al, 2020). Profitability calculations for undertaking and monitoring the safety levels become crucial in making the location-related decisions.…”