Zoning of potential flood risk in rural settlements using TOPSIS-AHP Model (case study: Shoor River, Boushehr Province)

Rural and urban areas are annually encountering flood hazards due disregarding to river regime and topographic characteristics. The objective of present research is the recognition of human settlements, which are subjecting to flood hazards using Topsis-AHP model. Outcome of this model is mapping of the study area in terms of flood hazards and identifying of the best location for development of human settlements. The total of nine natural factors that are contributing in flood event was used in this model and flood hazard map of Rude-shoor river basin was developed using geographic information system and ArcGIS 10 software. Resultant data was checked by field observations and results of previous studies. Results showed that 30 villages at north and south of catchment are located in areas with very high and high risk of flood because of their topographic location. The Ci index for very high to high risk of flood were calculated to be 0.993 and 0.528, respectively. The total of 36 % of catchment area were classified in very high to moderate risk of flood, which point out that the study area is encountering severe flood hazards. Present research is revealed capability of Topsis model in sketching of river buffer zone in the study area. In addition, application of Topsis model and method of this resaerch is firmly recommended to be used for planning of flood hazards for human settlements at other parts of Iran.