Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Academic Member of Yazd University
2 1- Ph.D. Candidate in Watershed Science and Engineering
3 Academic Member of Yazd Universiti
4 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (RIFR)
Abstract
Introduction
Flood risk management is one of the most significant environmental and developmental challenges in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. The Fakhrabad watershed in Yazd province, due to its specific climatic and topographic characteristics, is highly susceptible to flash floods, which can cause substantial economic, social, and environmental damages.
Materials and Methods
This study aimed to prioritize sub-watersheds of the Fakhrabad watershed in Yazd province in terms of flood susceptibility. Eight primary criteria were considered: Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope, precipitation, fractal dimension, connectivity, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Topographic Control Index, and stream power. Relevant data were collected from hydrological records, topographic maps, and climatic datasets, and processed using a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Results and Discussion
Comparison with SWAT outputs indicated that both AHP and IRNAHP effectively represented flood susceptibility patterns. AHP remains a valuable tool due to its simplicity
Conclusion
This study compared AHP and IRNAHP for analyzing flood susceptibility of sub-watersheds in the Fakhrabad watershed, Yazd province. AHP identified sub-watersheds 4, 3, 31, 27, and 29 as having the highest, and sub-watersheds 15, 22, 14, 21, and 6 as having the lowest flood susceptibility. IRNAHP results indicated that sub-watersheds 4, 3, 31, 27, and 24 were most vulnerable, while sub-watersheds 15, 22, 14, 21, and 12 were least susceptible. Although AHP remains a reliable method for criteria prioritization due to its simplicity and interpretability, its accuracy diminishes in the presence of high uncertainty or ambiguity. IRNAHP effectively addresses these limitations, offering a more precise tool for flood risk management. Therefore, IRNAHP can be considered a complementary and more efficient approach for managing flood risks in sensitive regions.
Keywords
)