7th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE2024)
12-14 December 2024
CUET, Chattogram, Bangladesh
[Link]
ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD HAZARDS AND VULNERABILITIES USING
SENTINEL-2 IMAGERY AND FABDEM DATA: A CASE STUDY OF
LALMONIRHAT SADAR UPAZILLA, BANGLADESH
Shema Akter*1 and Faishal Ahmed2
1
Department of Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-
1000, Bangladesh, e-mail: shima172300@[Link]
2
Department of Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-
1000, Bangladesh, e-mail: faishalahmed413@[Link]
*Corresponding Author
Abstract
Floods are a major worldwide concern, with Bangladesh witnessing repeated natural disasters that cause severe
loss of life and economic damage. Between 1971 and 2018, floods accounted for 29% of the country's natural
catastrophes, resulting in the most economic damages of any major calamity. The Teesta River, a transboundary
river critical to the Teesta River Floodplain Basin (TRFB), frequently floods, affecting Bangladesh's lower
riparian zone. The river's overflow, along with water discharges from the Gozoldoba barrage in India, leads to
annual flooding in riparian areas. This trend causes a disproportionately large number of individuals to become
homeless compared to other disasters, underlining the critical need for effective flood protection techniques. In
this study, we assessed the hazard, vulnerability, and risk caused by both normal and severe floods by examining
critical characteristics such as cultivation areas, human populations, and transportation infrastructure. Our study
utilized a LULC map produced from Sentinel-2 imagery and FABDEM (Forest and Buildings removed
Copernicus DEM) data for a comprehensive analysis of flood hazards and vulnerabilities in the study area. Our
findings show that during normal floods, 26% of the study area is submerged, but this rises to 53% during severe
flooding. Furthermore, 22% of the land is moderate to very highly vulnerable during normal floods, rising to 48%
during severe floods. In addition, we investigated hazard, vulnerability, and risk in several land use classifications,
such as cultivable areas, human settlements, and roads/railways. This study is an essential resource for disaster
management and urban planning. Understanding the individual dangers and vulnerabilities faced by communities
along the Teesta River allows authorities to effectively allocate resources and adopt solutions to lessen flooding's
effects. Furthermore, our extensive study of the various land use classifications gives useful information for
prioritizing interventions and infrastructure development.
Keywords: DEM, Flood, Vulnerability, LULC, Risk
