Geospatial assessment of flood impact in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

Flooding occurs worldwide due to unplanned human activities and natural factors. GIS and remote sensing technologies are widely used to mapping flood-prone areas for easy planning measures to reduce flood damages and associated risks. The GIS software, ArcMap 10.4 environment, Landsat-8 OLI and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) imagery from 2022 were used to derive slope, annual rainfall, land use, drainage network, and soil layers. Studies indicates that areas within 170m from the drainage network are very high vulnerability to floods, whereas areas within distances of 354m, 560m, and 1,807m from the drainage network are considered to be high, moderate, and low vulnerability to flood, respectively. The study area’s mean annual rainfall was classified into categories: very low (4426–4573mm), Low (4573-4699mm) moderate (4699-4776mm), high (4776-4841mm). Areas within 170m from the drainage network are highly vulnerability to floods, whereas areas within distances of 354m, 560m, and 1,807m from the drainage network are considered to be high, moderate, and low vulnerability to flood, respectively. Findings show that Uyo is highly prone to flood whenever there is excessive rainfall as lack of drainage network contributes the highest influence (33.8%). The studies also show that floods have severely affected communities like: Effiat Ikot Edo; Atan Usun Effiat; Anan; AfahaIdoro; Use Ikot; EbioIkotNsung and Mbiabong Ikot Essien areas are highly and moderately Vulnerable respectively. While Uyo village Offot; Ibiaku; AnuaOffot; Use Mbak, Ata Nsukara and EwetOffot are moderately and low vulnerable. The study recommends collaboration between town planners, construction companies, and experts like hydrologists for flood hazard modeling in Uyo as a means of mitigating incessant flood impact in Uyo.