Title: Assessing flood exposure in informal neighbourhoods: a case study of Bou Saâda, Algeria

Authors: Zohra Abdelkrim; Brahim Nouibat

Addresses: Institute of Management of Urban Techniques, Mohamed Boudiaf University, M'sila, Algeria; Laboratory of City, Environment, Society and Sustainable Development, (VESDD), M'sila, Algeria; UMB-M'Sila, Siège de la wilaya de M'sila, 28000 M'Sila, Algéria ' Institute of Management of Urban Techniques, Mohamed Boudiaf University, M'sila, Algeria; Laboratory of City, Environment, Society and Sustainable Development, (VESDD), M'sila, Algeria; UMB-M'Sila, Siège de la wilaya de M'sila, 28000 M'Sila, Algéria

Abstract: The informal neighbourhoods of Bou Saâda are at prone to flooding; with a population of about 60,958 people with an area of 446.24 hectares, spread over eight neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods are affected by more intense precipitation and short duration, causing economic damage and even loss of human life. The main objective of this study was to determine the degree of exposure to flood risk in informal neighbourhoods areas, based on an integration of geographical information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP); this is achieved when selecting criteria due to their significance in the field of analysis, including soil type, land-use, and slope level, by overlay the layers of soil impermeability with the land use intensity layers. Results in this study indicate that approximately 52.99% of informal neighbourhood areas are with a high degree of flood risk exposure; Such areas lie on the valley sides, whose soil is distinguished by impermeability and slope.

Keywords: informal; neighbourhoods; flood risk; physical fragility; exposure; geographical information system; GIS; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; impermeability; intensity; Bou Saâda; Algeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2022.119249

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2022 Vol.13 No.1, pp.74 - 91

Received: 02 May 2020
Accepted: 10 Jul 2020

Published online: 30 Nov 2021 *

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