Risk assessment and zoning of flood disaster in Wuchengxiyu Region, China

Based on the data of physical geography and social economy, an index system of Wuchengxiyu Region was constructed with the disaster-inducing factors, disaster-pregnant environment, and disaster-bearing body as indicators by analyzing the formation and impact factors of flood disasters. The weight of each index was given using the analytic hierarchy process, and the comprehensive evaluation index was constructed by the weighted comprehensive method, and the flood disaster evaluation model was established. The flood risk zoning of Wuchengxiyu Region was implemented by means of Geographic Information System spatial analysis methods. The results showed that the high-risk areas in Wuchengxiyu Region are mainly distributed in Liangxi District, Binhu District, Xishan District of Wuxi City, Zhonglou District, Tianning District, and Xinbei District of Changzhou City, and Jiangyin City. The high-risk area in Wuxi City is highly exposed due to its low terrain. The high-risk area in Changzhou City is highly vulnerable due to the high density of population, buildings and roads. And the high-risk area in Jiangyin City is located in the high-risk area of disaster-causing factors due to its abundant rainfall. •Establishing the index system from disaster-inducing factors, disaster-pregnant environment, and disaster-bearing body.•Adopting Geographic Information System and AHP to obtain the assessment map of hazard, exposure and vulnerability.•Constructing the flood disaster risk assessment model to obtain the flood disaster risk zoning map of Wuchengxiyu Region.•Conclusions of this paper can provide scientific support for the development and layout of urban agglomeration.