TITLE:
Estimation of Tsunami Hazard Vulnerability Factors by Integrating Remote Sensing, GIS and AHP Based Assessment
AUTHORS:
Mohammad Reza Poursaber, Yasuo Ariki
KEYWORDS:
GIS, Remote Sensing, AHP and Tsunami Vulnerability Map
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.3 No.4,
April
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), image processing in remote sensing and
analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were used to estimate and classify vulnerability
and inundation areas under the Tohoku tsunami event 2011 in the Ishinomaki, Miyagi
prefecture, Japan. Acceptable data were obtained from Geoeye-1 satellite image,
GSI DEM and field survey. Five factors of elevation, slope, shoreline distance,
river distance and vegetation were used to classify the vulnerability and be weighted
via AHP. By assessing the estimated and classified vulnerability map and comparing
it with the inundation map of the study area, we found that a 13.44 km2 area came under the tsunami vulnerability zone. Inundation areas were located in
high and slightly high vulnerability classifications. Kitakami river and the Unga
water canal played the role of flooding strips by transporting tsunami waves into
the hinterland. This research is important to understand the roles of main topographical
factors in a tsunami disaster.