Abstract

Application of ArcGIS tools for Flood Risk Assessment
Track: Water Resources
Authors: Ena Gamez, Tereza Cavazos, Luis Mendoza

In a good example of collaboration between academy and decision makers, CICESE and the Baja California State Government are jointly leading the preparation of the State Disaster Risk Atlas. GIS is a key tool in disaster risk assessment, through maps and graphic presentations. The preparation and visualization of several plausible scenarios are crucial in decision making processes. For flood risk assessment, in particular, ArcGIS provides many of the necessary methodologies and tools. In the flood risk component of the Baja California State Risk Atlas, the hydrological tools of the ArcGIS spatial analysis were combined with the Geospatial Hydrologic Modeling Extension. Simulation results and risk maps will be uploaded in the internet so that the community, the end users, can readily access them online. The State Risk Atlas is expected to become a milestone in the process of increasing the security of the community and protecting the public and private property.