Mapping and Mitigating Flood Extent in Keta Municipality Using Sentinel-1 SAR: A Remote Sensing Approach for Disaster Management
Keywords:
Satellite Remote Sensing, Flood Mapping, Climate Change, Sentinel-1 SAR, Disaster Management.Abstract
Floods constitute a pervasive and destructive natural disaster worldwide, with increasing frequency and severity necessitating innovative approaches for monitoring, management, and mitigation. Traditional flood assessment methods, reliant on labour-intensive field inspections during flood events, are constrained by time-consuming processes and limited accessibility to affected areas. The emergence of satellite remote sensing, offering synoptic views at unprecedented spatial resolutions and accuracies, presents an opportunity to address these limitations effectively. This research harnesses satellite remote sensing, specifically the Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), to map the extent of the November 07, 2021 floods within the Keta Municipality. Analyzing three strategically chosen SAR data sets acquired before, during, and after the flood event, this study not only provides precise flood extent mapping but also gains valuable insights into the dynamic nature of floods in the Keta Municipality. The investigation of this study focuses on the Keta Lagoon, revealing an inundated area of 7044.3 km2 during the November 07, 2021 floods. Beyond technical methodology, this study holds critical implications for flood mitigation and urban planning. This study presents recommendations to the Keta Municipal Assembly, emphasizing the urgency of flood mitigation measures and the necessity for relocating communities near the lagoon. In an era of climate unpredictability, this research underscores the pivotal role of remote sensing in flood disaster response and proactive urban development. By synthesizing spatial data and offering a comprehensive assessment of flood dynamics, this study highlights the potential of remote sensing as an indispensable tool for disaster management and environmental monitoring. Ultimately, it contributes to the global endeavour of enhancing resilience to an escalating flood threat.
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