Physical Vulnerability Assessment Due to Floods - Siesmandi Area

Abstract

Global environment changes have led to increased number of floods resulting into different human, social, environmental and agricultural losses. KPK province of Pakistan was badly affected by 2010 floods. Building inventory plays a vital role in physical vulnerability & Risk assessment for floods. Building performance in a hazard like flood depends on type of building structure, its location & severity of flood. Last building inventory in Pakistan was developed in 1998-99(2017 census data not incorporated in this study). Current stock is projected as per 1998 census for according to population growth. This could not be true due to spatial variations in building stock as well as urbanization of large populations. Different techniques have been employed to develop the building inventory as per typologies. In this research Google earth images supported with actual field observations were used to calculate & classify the number & types of buildings in flood affected Siesmandi area of KPK. Secondary data analysis was followed by verification through randomly selected 402 units inside the study area. Present technique have been previously used for earthquake vulnerability/ risk assessment but for floods that too taking exposure & hazard along with elevation from MSL into account, the study is first of its kind. After creating the building inventory, physical vulnerability to floods is assessed using the employed model which could be further used for potential risk. Same result in the form of vulnerability map is used to recommend precautionary/mitigating measures in the study area for people and Government organizations.