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An AHP-based assessment of flood triggering factors to enhance resiliency in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Assessing flood triggering factors and risk reduction approaches are increasingly critical policy issues, particularly in global south countries that suffer the highest human and economic losses resulting from flood disasters. In Saudi Arabia, several cities have been experiencing flash floods incessant incidences in recent times, especially in the coastal cities of Dammam and Jeddah and Riyadh, which is bounded by valleys. However, there is a dearth of studies on experts’ opinions to assess flash flood triggering factors and alternative approaches to mitigating the flash flood impacts. Therefore, based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) questionnaire survey (n = 18), the objectives of this study are to explore experts’ opinions about the influence of specific climatic and non-climatic factors that trigger flash floods and the most effectual alternative approaches for reducing flash flood occurrence in the coastal city of Dammam. The findings indicate that rainfall has the highest likelihood of triggering flash floods with a priority weight of 32%, trailed by land use (19%) and slope (18%). Elevation and soil type were adjudged the least triggering factors with priority weights of 16 and 15%, respectively. Concerning flood reduction alternative approaches, drainage management (59%) is the most important alternative approach, followed distantly by disaster warning system (16%) and raising public awareness (15%). The study recommends drainage management, installing disaster warning systems, and raising public awareness in reducing flash flood disasters in the study area and the country at large.

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Fig. 1

(Source: Dano 2018)

Fig. 2

(Source: Bhatkallys 2011; Arab News 2017; Jason 2017; JonLeeChannel 2017)

Fig. 3

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Acknowledgements

The author wish to acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Ismail Rimi Abubakar for reviewing this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P. O. Box 1982, Dammam, 32141, Saudi Arabia

    Umar Lawal Dano

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Correspondence to Umar Lawal Dano.

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Appendix A

Appendix A

Example of the factors comparison questionnaire: Comparison of flash flood triggering factors

Factor 1

Extremely favors (9)

Very strong favors (7)

Strongly favors (5)

Slightly favors (3)

Equal (1)

Slightly favors (3)

Strongly favors (5)

Very strong favors (7)

Extremely favors (9)

Factor 2

Question: With respect to flash flood occurrence, which factor is more likely to trigger flash flood in the study area?

 Rainfall

         

Slope

 Rainfall

         

Elevation

 Rainfall

         

Soil types

 Rainfall

         

Land use

 Slope

         

Elevation

 Slope

         

Soil types

 Slope

         

Land use

 Elevation

         

Soil types

 Elevation

         

Land use

 Soil types

         

Land use

Table 3: Comparison of the Alternative Approaches

Question: With respect to flash flood reduction, which alternative approach is most preferable?

 Disaster warning system

         

Raising public awareness

 Disaster warning system

         

Drainage management

 Disaster warning system

         

Evacuation

 Raising public awareness

         

Drainage management

 Raising public awareness

         

Evacuation

 Drainage management

         

Evacuation

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Dano, U.L. An AHP-based assessment of flood triggering factors to enhance resiliency in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. GeoJournal 87, 1945–1960 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10363-5

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