Geospatial Analysis of Flood Vulnerability Levels Based on Physical Characteristics and Resilience Capacity of Peri-Urban Settlements in Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding is becoming a yearly reoccurring event in many communities and cities in Nigeria, leading to the destruction of properties and deaths; hence, we must take measures to either prepare for the impact or curb the occurrence. The study identified flood vulnerability levels of communities in Isoko North LGA based on physical environmental domains such as land use, elevation, and proximity to river channel (drainage) using geospatial techniques. Also, attributes that could contribute to the resilience capacity building of the communities were assessed. From the study, 73.93% of the entire area is moderately and highly vulnerable to flood, while among the communities, seventeen ( 17) are categorized as moderately vulnerable, and four (4) are lowly vulnerable. The overall resilience capacity of the communities indicated can build a substantial capacity towards community resilience (3.02, 0.06). However, there is a need to encourage collaboration with stakeholders to improve mitigation action and enhance various shortcomings toward resilience capacity building.

Spatial Assessment of Flood Vulnerability of Developed Properties in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…socio-economic capacities, coping, and recovery) are essential for assessing physical damage due to flood" [12,10]. In Nigeria, several studies have been carried out on vulnerability assessment using various techniques including Remote Sensing and GIS techniques [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] to ascertain the vulnerability level while a study conducted by Ugwu [22] was able to examine the effects of incidence of flooding on property value in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State. None of these studies assessed the vulnerability of developed properties.…”