Flood Susceptibility Mapping of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Region of Telangana State, India: A Multi Criteria Approach using GIS and AHP

This manuscript presents a comprehensive study on flood susceptibility mapping in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region of Telangana State, India, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a multi-criteria approach. The primary objective of this research is to develop a robust flood susceptibility mapping framework for GHMC, considering various thematic maps including distance to river, elevation, flow accumulation, flow direction, drainage density, contour, Landsat 8, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land use and land cover (LULC), annual rainfall, roughness, slope, stream network, topographic wetness index (TWI) and flood susceptibility map. Through the integration of these thematic maps, we have successfully delineated areas prone to flooding within the GHMC region. The study highlights the importance of utilizing multiple criteria and GIS techniques for accurate flood susceptibility assessment. The results indicate that areas with high drainage density, low elevation and proximity to rivers are more susceptible to flooding. Moreover, factors such as land cover, rainfall intensity and terrain roughness significantly influence flood susceptibility. Conclusions drawn from this study emphasize the significance of incorporating spatial analysis and decision-making techniques in flood risk management and urban planning initiatives.