1.

0 ABSTRACT

Flood is a natural disaster that poses threats to human lives and properties. However, these
disastrous consequences of flood are highly dependent on several natural and human induced
activities in coastal regions and flood prone areas in the Niger Delta. Excessive rainfall, sea level
rise and poor drainage systems can also cause flood and inundations. The aim of this research is to
develop models on flood and coastal erosion monitoring and assessment using Geomatics
techniques, analysis and Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) in the study areas of Niger Delta.
Factors affecting flood would be identified through previous researches, use of questionnaires and
interviews. Other relevant spatial and non-spatial data such as satellite imagery, existing
topographical, geological and hydrological maps, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and their
attributes would be acquired and processed. A robust geodatabase would be created for the
selected factors, field investigations and historical reports, and processed spatial and non-spatial
data, to allow spatial integration and analysis for decision making. The geodatabase and other
spatial and non-spatial information would be modelled using weighted overlay of the reclassified
flood indicators, hydraulic modelling and river analysis systems and multicriteria evaluation. With
the aid of the model, flood vulnerability maps of different case scenarios will be produced to know
the level of vulnerability of the affected areas. The maps can be used to: measure and monitor the
extent of flooded areas, efficiently target rescue efforts and provide quantifiable estimates of the
amount of land and oil infrastructures and platforms affected. This will be a digital mapping
technique that is easily updated, uses real-time earth observation data; thereby provide up to date
information on flooding and aid prompt and useful decision making in managing risks involved.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
Most Nigerian coastal cities, especially the Niger Delta areas are almost completely ravaged and
devastated by flooding and inundation problems. Nigeria’s economy is dominated by the oil and
gas sector. However, the Niger Delta Region where most of the oil and gas is produced directly
bear the environmental consequences of oil development, such as oil spillage and loss of
biodiversity. The oil rigs, surface pipelines and other oil platforms alter the ecosystem; reduce
available land for agriculture and other development, and thereby expose the watershed (as a result
of less vegetation cover) to increased surface run off, flood susceptibility, river sedimentation,
among other inundations (Adejoh, 2014; Ogwu, 2011). These inundations are caused by frequent
tides, storm surges, sea level rise and river banks overflow; in fact, they are common occurrence in
the coastal cities of Nigeria. Flood has become a rampant phenomenon and there are a lot of
factors, such as rainfall amounts and rates, topography, land use, soil type, and moisture
conditions responsible for it (Funk, 2006; Sanyal & Lu, 2004). However, most of the cities are
spatially limited in terms of expansion due to the delicate physiographic and edaphic conditions.
Likewise, they are surrounded by network of rivers, creeks and wetlands; frequently affected by
excessive rainfall, river overflow, pollution and poor drainage system particularly during the rainy
season (May-October) of the year. It is therefore pertinent to have the spatial knowledge of the
flood prone areas within the coastal cities, their attributes, and affected resources. Adequate spatial
information about flood prone environment are needed in management and prevention of flood
disaster. These spatial information can be acquired through mapping (in this case, flood mapping),
a spatial learning process. The topographic information and other spatial information of the
environment will be required to understand the earth’s terrain for proper surface modelling and
control of land use in susceptible areas. Such information also serve as base data to determine
level of flood susceptibility of an area (Balica, Wright, & van der Meulen, 2012).
Many methods exist to provide qualitative and quantitative estimations of the risk level of flood
susceptibility in an area but few of these methods consider careful and comprehensive evaluation
of factors related to flood (Pradhan, 2010). In most advanced countries, new technologies such as
GIS, GPS, and remote sensing have been employed to tackle flood problems with improved
efficiency and speed at a reasonable cost (Ali et al., 2018; Liu & De Smedt, 2004). Also, various
hydrologic and hydraulic models such as Hydrological Engineering Center and Hydraulic
Modelling and River Analysis Systems (HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS) have been developed to
enhance GIS and remote sensing technologies to monitor surface runoffs, watershed analysis, soil
and coastal erosion, flood modelling and simulation, among others (Dang & Kumar, 2017;
Hudson, Olayinka, & Nwilo, 2016; Tassew, Belete, & Miegel, 2019). However, the input
parameters for these models and technologies are majorly spatial data. Other social factors related
to flood including community perception have not been properly catered for. Humans are major
stake holders in flood events. Their activities contribute majorly to flood occurrence and they are
the most affected (Oluwadare & Oguntade, 2018). Hence, their opinions among other social,
geographical and ecological factors must be critically evaluated in order to monitor and control
flood. MCE is capable of proper investigation of such complex and diverse factors (Saaty, 2008).
Integration of GIS with other analytical tools will ensure optimal performance of the flood models
(Ouma & Tateishi, 2014).
Flood vulnerability maps of the affected areas for different case scenarios (normal, moderate, and
worse) can be produced from such optimal models at desirable scale for planning purposes and
evacuation strategy (Hudson et al., 2016). Digital flood maps produced with GIS allow users to
overlay additional digital information such as roads, buildings, and critical facilities—allowing
quick assessment of the potential impacts of a given flood level (Fernandez, Mourato, & Moreira,
2016). The optimal model will also be useful in the development of a flood forecasting system,
establishment of a flood assessment system and making of a flood control policy.