Multi-criteria analysis to assess the area's vulnerability to instantaneous flood risk using GIS in Amman city, Jordan

Al-Rjoub, Emad , Ibrahim, Majed

2026-01-15 WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2026   93(卷), 2(期), (113-130页)

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Flash floods are among the most devastating natural disasters, as climate change and human activities increase their risks. This study focused on the development of a reliable flash flood map for the city of Amman, Jordan, using the integration of geographic information systems with the hierarchical analysis method and multi-criteria decision analysis. The consistency of the weights was checked using the consistency index of 0.0547, indicating the results' reliability. Eleven main criteria for assessing flood risk have been identified, the most prominent of which are rainfall, elevation, subsidence, and land uses, which are the most influential factors in determining flood-prone areas. The authors used high-resolution data, such as LiDAR data and supervised classification, to improve the accuracy of the assessment. The results revealed that 43% of the study area is considered high to very high risk, while 29% is moderate, and 28% is low to very low.HIGHLIGHTSFocused on central Jordan, this study combines AHP and GIS for flood risk analysis. Eleven criteria identified flash flood zones using high-resolution data. The results show that 16% of the area is highly suitable for groundwater recharge. Offers innovative insights for sustainable water management in arid regions. Enhances flood assessment and urban planning strategies.