Geographic Information System application in flood risks prevention, hazards reduction and planning

Abstract The effects of Flood hazard mapping and flood inundation modelling in saving lives and properties in our societies cannot be overemphasized. Haphazard land use planning and lack of compliance to rules and regulations concerning setbacks have been observed to worsen the impacts of flooding and equally pose as major contributing factors to the exposure of people to flood risks in the study area. The study aimed at determining the built areas within the floodable area. Integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing were utilized to analyze the topographic data and the land use data generated from the satellite imagery of the area. The study revealed that nearly half of the buildings and infrastructures in the study area lie within the flood plain. Applications of GIS and Satellite Imagery analysis techniques were used to estimate the population at risk of flooding in the study area. We submit that space based and Geospatial data analysis and applications in flood risks assessment and planning prior to infrastructural development would go a long way in the preservation of lives and properties and prevent great economic loss as a result of flooding.