A GIS Approach to Flood Modeling and Mitigation in Western Viti Levu, Fiji
Jessy Paquette, MSc candidate
Time: 12–1 pm
Venue: GEO01A Tutorial Room, Marine Campus
The January 2009 floods in Fiji were reported to be amongst the worst in the history of the country. The Nadi Basin, a small and very reactive catchment, was one of the worst hit, with waters rising up to three and a half metres above normal levels. Very little is known of the vulnerability of the catchment and its inhabitants to floods since no models currently exist to investigate flood risk. This research presents a simple and economical approach to flood hazard assessment in a region where primary data are scarce. The objectives of the study were to collect precise topographical and hydrological data, develop an accurate flood model and create a variety of detailed datasets that could be integrated into a flood warning system. The final output, a flood vulnerability map, was linked to the 2007 census data to evaluate the total risk and exposure of seven focus zones in the greater Nadi area.
