A GIS – BASED FLOOD RISK MAPPING: A CASE STUDY IN PRU DISTRICT OF GHANA
FREDERICK KWAME SAKYI *
Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
BERNARD FEI-BAFFOE
Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The incidence of torrential rains and their effects on river discharge normally result in flooding within communities along river banks and also in certain parts of the communities having poor drainage systems and land forms. In recent years, advances in Remote Sensing technology has made flood zoning studies more efficient. In this study, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques were integrated for the first time to map out flood risk zones in Pru District of Ghana. The SRTM 90 m DEM was used to produce the flood risk map of the District and classified the flood risk zones into: high, medium and low. In accordance with the extent used, it was realized that 3,246.26 km² (52.68%) of the land area fall within the high flood risk zone, 754.54 km² (12.24%) within medium flood risk zone and 2,161.79 km² (35.08%) within the low flood risk zone. Communities badly hit by floods that have been classified as high flood risk zones were mainly located in the North-Eastern and Central parts of the District.
Keywords: Pru District of Ghana, floods, mapping out, flood risk zones, GIS and Remote Sensing, SRTM 90 m DEM