Can GIS Save Us from Floods?
Created By RISC | 9 months ago
Last modified date : 9 months ago
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared that the world had entered the El Niño on 5 July 2023 and it continues.
El Niño severely affects many countries, including Thailand, bringing extremely high air temperatures and drought. The strong El Niño will continue to weaken from March to May 2024 and reach neutral status (ENSO-neutral). La Niña will start from July, according to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States (NOAA) in January. Thailand should therefore escape drought in the second half of 2024 but might instead face flooding.
We already know there is a risk of flooding, but how do we know which areas are at risk? Geographic Information System (GIS) is a technology many agencies around the world use for spatial analysis and prediction.
What is GIS?
GIS is a technology for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and presenting spatial data. It can help us understand relationships and trends in each area so that management can effectively deal with various changes.
We can see which areas are at risk of flooding by combining information from various sources. Some important factors have been analyzed, including rainfall data, high-level numerical models (DEM), river networks, and river obstacles, as well as areas that have repeatedly flooded from satellite images.
GIS and spatial analysis theory results can be shown in map format. Relevant agencies and the public can use these findings in decision making, surveillance, or proactive work to prepare for a flood before it occurs.
As the rainy season approaches, La Niña could have a greater impact than anticipated. If we check with relevant agencies if we’re in a flood-prone area, we can plan and prepare ahead of time, reducing the damage.
Story by: Sirapach Mangkang, Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist, RISC
References:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/lanina/enso_evolution-status-fcsts-web.pdf
https://gistda.or.th/news_view.php?n_id=2883