Remote Sensing Method for Flood Management System

Flood occurred when heavy and continuous rainfall exceeding the absorptive capacity of soil and the flow capacity of rivers, streams, and coastal areas. Land areas that are most subjected to floods are areas situated adjacent to rivers and streams, that are known as floodplain and therefore considered as “flood-prone”. These areas are hazardous to development activities if the vulnerability of those activities exceeds an acceptable level. The main objectives of this study are; to identify floodplains and other susceptible areas, and to assess the extent of disaster impact in the study area which is located at Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. This area experienced an unprecedented flood during December of 2006 to January of 2007. Questions such as how often and how long the floodplain will be covered by water, and at what time of year flooding can be expected need to be answered. Thus, an understanding of the dynamic nature of floodplains is greatly required. Multi-temporal Radarsat-1images, Landsat ETM+ image, topographical maps and land use maps were used in this study for the purpose of delineating the flood extend before, during and after the flood event. DEM acquired from topographic map is used to derive flood depth. The final outputs of this study are flood extent and flood depth maps where both of these maps show the impact of the flood to environment, lives and properties. This map is also important and can be applied to develop a comprehensive relief effort immediately after flooding.