Inundation area investigation approach using remote sensing technology on 2017 flooding in Sakon Nakhon province Thailand

 

Read full article
Article Title: Inundation area investigation approach using remote sensing technology on 2017 flooding in Sakon Nakhon province Thailand
Authors: Rotjanakusol T., Laosuwan T.
Affiliation: 1Department of Physics, Faculty Science, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand. 2Space Technology and Geoinformatics Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150 Thailand
Abstract: Flooding is a natural phenomenon occurring frequently in different areas of Thailand. In July 2017, it rained unceasingly in Sakon Nakhon owing to the influence of SONCA, a tropical storm. Flooding affected the livelihoods of local inhabitants and caused severe damage to agricultural areas. This study aimed to explore the inundation area, examination approach suitable for the regional level, particularly in the north-eastern part of Thailand. Flooding in Sakon Nakhon that occurred in 2017 was used as a case study. For implementation, data from Terra/Modis was analyzed along with the use of the 4 designed physical models comprising 1) the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), 2) the normalized difference water index (NDWI), 3) the modification of normalized difference water index (MNDWI), and 4) the desert flood index (DFI). The findings from these models were exploited for the ground surveys and accuracy assessment by Kappa statistics. It was found that analysis of the data from Terra/Modis and the use of DFI was the best approach. The overall accuracy = 94.44% and Kappa statistics = 0.9102. This implied that the approach in the study could identify the patterns of inundation areas efficiently.
Keywords: Remote sensing, flooding, NDVI, NDWI, MNDWI, DFI
*Correspondence: Teerawong Laosuwan, Department of Physics, Faculty Science, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand, Tel/Fax. +66 4375 4379, email: teerawong@msu.ac.th