Urban flood risk management, a solution for the protection of ecosystems (Case study: Arak City)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Khomein, Iran.

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Khomein, Iran

3 Sari University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Sari, Iran.

10.22091/ethc.2024.10558.1018

Abstract

Objective: Knowledge of urban flood risk changes related to human activities and land use changes in urban watersheds has a decisive role in protecting ecosystems. In the present research, the risk management of Arak urban flood was investigated as a solution for the protection of ecosystems.
Methods: By defining the risks related to the origin, a management plan was presented based on the prioritization of Arak urban flood risk management solutions. First, different flood risks were weighted using AHP multi-criteria decision making model. Then, the spatial layers of risks were extracted from databases to prepare a spatial map of risk potential based on weighted layers. Then, 13 strategies for Arak urban flood risk management were determined based on the review of researches and expert opinions that using the TOPSIS model, strategies were prioritized.
Results: The results showed that the slope factor with a weight of 0.65 in the topography criteria, the population factor with a weight of 0.452 in the density criteria, and the distance from the river and waterway network with a weight of 0.70 in the hydrology criteria, have more effect than other sub-criteria. The results showed that about 777 hectares of the city's area, which includes 6.63% and mainly includes the city center around the Karehrood River, has a high flood risk potential. In these areas where the flood risk potential of Arak city is higher, mainly the slope is less, the distance to the river and canals is less and the population density is higher. In the solution prioritization section, it was found that organizing the wall and the river bed with a closeness factor of 0.8872 is known as the best option, and after that, removing the occupation and releasing it is with a closeness factor of 0.7945.
Conclusion: The following priorities include dredging the river channel, optimizing the dimensions of bridge spans, raising awareness and increasing public knowledge. In the general, it should be stated that the urban flood risk management of Arak, in order to protect human ecosystems, requires the participation of all sections of the society.

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References

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