A GEO SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF FLOOD HAZARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN VAVUNIYA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Several areas in the Vavuniya district are being experienced to inundate during every rainy season frequently, thus it is crucial to assess the flooding incidents in this area in order to derive the proper planning and policies to overcome the impact of this hazard. The objective of this study was to build a GIS model for flood hazard impact assessment in Vavuniya district of Northern Province. In addition to produce flood hazard risk map to the Vavuniya district in a GIS platform. The study has required primary data, were collected from observations, discussions and interviews with affected people using district level participatory hazard and resource mapping. secondary data has been collected from reports, disaster preparedness and response plan in Disaster Management Center. The present investigation was tailored to assess the use of Multi Criteria Decision Approach (MCDA) in Vavuniya district flood analysis. Categorization of possible flood risk zone was accomplished using geospatial datasets like elevation, slope, distance from river, and land use characteristics which were derived from digital elevation model (DEM) and satellite image respectively. As well as, data were collected using hazard score, vulnerability score, and manageability score tables and produced risk map in Vavuniya district. This result suggests that MCDA within GIS techniques is very useful in accurate and reliable flood risk analysis and mapping. In this context it is critical to develop appropriated preventive strategies in the flood prone zone to protect the people from potential disaster threat. The Hazard score map with spatial references Vavuniya north, Vavuniya, and Vengalacheddikulam are high hazard prone areas in Vavuniya district. The vulnerability score map with spatial references Vavuniya north, Vavuniya and Vengalacheddikulam are highly vulnerable areas in Vavuniya district. The manageability score map with spatial references Vavuniya north, Vavuniya, and Vengalacheddikulam are highly hazard prone areas in the district. The risk score map with spatial references Vavuniya, Vavuniya south and Vengalacheddikulam are highly hazard prone areas in Vavuniya district.