Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)

Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)

Flood Hazard Zoning of Kashan County Based on Analytical Hierarchy Process Using Geographic Information System

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mehrdad Khoshoei 1
Ehsan Esteki 2
Saman Amini 2
1 Assist. Prof. of Water Resources Management and Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
2 MSc. Student in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering and Management, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
10.22093/wwj.2025.521261.3491
Abstract
Flooding is one of the most significant natural disasters that has extensive impacts on various regions of Iran, particularly in Kashan County. Each year, this phenomenon causes considerable financial damage to local infrastructure and often results in human casualties. Given the importance of this issue, identifying and assessing flood-prone areas can play a crucial role in minimizing losses and preventing the destructive effects of floods. Accordingly, the present study focuses on flood susceptibility zoning in Kashan County, located in central Iran. In this research, Geographic Information System was employed as an effective analytical tool. In the first stage, raster maps related to key indicators influencing flood susceptibility were prepared. These indicators included environmental and geographical variables affecting flood occurrence. Subsequently, the maps were analyzed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process, one of the most widely used multi-criteria decision-making methods for weighting. The weights of each criterion and their respective classes were determined through this process. Finally, the flood susceptibility map was generated using the raster calculator tool within the GIS environment. The results indicate that approximately 30% of the county’s area falls within zones of high flood risk, primarily covering the eastern regions characterized by high population density and urban development. In contrast, about 60% of the area lies within low-risk zones, mostly located in the western parts of the county with gentle slopes and dense vegetation cover. The novelty of this study lies in the simultaneous integration of twelve environmental and hydrological indicators within the AHP-GIS framework, with a specific focus on the arid climatic conditions of Kashan. The findings of this research can serve as a valuable basis for disaster management planning and the implementation of preventive measures across Kashan County.
Keywords
Zoning
Flooding
Geographic Information System
Digital Height Model
Hierarchical Analysis
Subjects
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Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)
Volume 36, Issue 2 - Serial Number 157
July and August 2026
Pages 43-62