Application of GIS techniques in flood extent mapping and management on Matebele flood plain in Shangombo district, Zambia.
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Date
2024
Authors
Manyika, Morris Kambeu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Floods are among the world’s most devastating hazards, and their effects negatively affect ecological and socioeconomic systems. Ecologically, they affect the distribution of provisional and regulatory services. Socio-economically, loss of lives, property, and financial costs. Application of GIS and Remote Sensing techniques in flood mapping is increasingly becoming significant to establish extents and effects of floods. This study focused on establishing the spatial extents and trends in the flooding events on Matebele Plain in Shangombo District of Zambia from 2008 to 2018 using GIS techniques. Using stratified and simple random sampling, a descriptive research design was adopted to collect data through interviews with 173 respondents. Primary data was sourced using questionnaire on 160 respondents and interview guides on 13 key informants. Sentinel 1A provided Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in the C-band or C-SAR. Interview data were analysed thematically with simple statistics, while Satellite images were processed and analysed using ArcGIS 10.3 software and Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP). Results indicated that the maximum aerial coverage of floods was recorded in 2018, covering an area of 16,441 km2, representing 78% of the total area. A hypothetical analysis of the trends in time series using the Regression statistical analysis gave (p-0.001), with r2 of 70% indicating significant geospatial variations in the aerial coverage of floods from 2008 to 2018. A thematic analysis of the responses on the effects of floods on various land use activities gave a positive response rate of 97%. The general conclusion was that Matabele Plain experiences flooding with geospatial variations in extents. Further research to consider the impacts of floods on specific land uses is highly recommended.
Description
Thesis of Master of Science Degree in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observations.