Combining Arc-GIS and OWA model in flooding potential analysis (case study: Meshkinshahr city)

Abstract “Streets have been turned into rivers”; this is a news headline which we have been hearing more often recently and refers to the floodwaters flowing into cities. Therefore, the present research is aimed to analyze the flooding potential in Meshkinshahr city (located at the northwest of Iran) using ordered weighted average model, which is one of the multi-criteria analysis techniques with high flexibility in decision-making and allows the researcher to evaluate different scenarios by choosing ordinal weights within an interval of full risk-taking and full risk aversion. In this research, eight criteria were used as inputs for this model. Initial preparation of the criteria was performed by Arc GIS software as well as Arc Hydro and ArcCN-Runoff tools. Then, in the next steps, data were imported to IDRISI software. By assigning 3 ordinal weights (ANDness, ORness, and Trade-off) to the model, the outputs were obtained. Finally, significance of the model in this field was revealed and the flooding potential was presented for the considered area in the form of maps in proportion to the selected ordinal weights with a valuation domain.