An Integrated Methodology for Flood Risk Assessment of Road Networks: A Case Study of Ordu, Türkiye

Abstract

Floods are among the most common and destructive natural disasters worldwide, causing both loss of life and serious economic damage. The effects of these disasters are critical to the functionality and safety of road networks. This study presents an integrated methodology to evaluate flood risk of road networks in Ordu, T & uuml;rkiye using a Geographic Information System based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, namely Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Elimination and Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE). AHP-based GIS results highlighted the impact of flood risk on road networks is more evident in Alt & imath;nordu. According to ELECTRE results, the risk is higher in the road networks in Alt & imath;nordu, Kumru, and & Ccedil;atalp & imath;nar districts. Within the scope of the study, sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the factors that trigger flood risk. The results showed that the Daily Maximum Rainfall, Proximity to River and Flow Accumulation criteria for hazard and Road Density, Road Networks and Population criteria for vulnerability are the most sensitive criteria for flood risk. The findings of the GIS-driven multi-criteria decision approach can be useful to decision makers and local governments for sustainable flood disaster planning and management of road networks in the study area, and the proposed method can be extended to different study areas to develop effective flood management strategies.