A GIS Multi-Criteria Evaluation for Flood Risk-Vulnerability Mapping of Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State

Flooding is a significant hydrological hazard in the world and has elicited responses from 

government and non-government agencies alike due to the damages it portends. This study was 

formulated on this backdrop, with the objective of designing a flood risk-vulnerability map of Ikom 

Local Government Area. The types of data employed were majorly secondary. Interviews were also 

primarily adopted. The multi-criteria assessment meant a systematic combination of independent 

parameter inputs (distance from river, rainfall intensity, elevation, land use, slope and soil; 

abbreviated as “DRELSS”) for the analyses. Analytical processes such as buffering, slope 

generation, interpolation, classification, reclassification and the weighted overlay were used in the 

ArcMap platform. The methods were all based on existing literature, authors expert understanding 

and standard analytical procedures. The flood risk-vulnerability map produced from the analysisshows 5 risk zones (very high, high, moderate, low and very low-risk zones). From the analysis, it 

was discovered that areas close to the rivers were more prone to flooding. A total of 7 communities 

were within very high-risk zone, which also covers 28 square kilometers (sq km) while 16 

communities were in high risk zones within an acreage of 305 sq km, both only making up a 

significant 16 percent of the total Ikom land area, most of which had built-up human activities. A 

follow-up ground-truthing exercise bolstered the findings of flood occurrence in the deduced 

communities. The necessity of a multi-criteria flood risk-vulnerability evaluation in Ikom, like any 

other area, is thus indispensable as it provides for precaution, preparedness and post-hazard 

planning. The findings herewith are no doubt vital to the government, urban planners, insurers, 

emergency services and the likes.