Assessing coastal vulnerability of Chittagong District, Bangladesh using geospatial techniques
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Assessing coastal vulnerability of Chittagong District, Bangladesh using geospatial techniques Johni Miah 1,2,3
&
Khandaker Tanvir Hossain 4
&
Mallik Akram Hossain 4
&
Syeda Ishrat Najia 4
Received: 24 June 2018 / Revised: 25 October 2018 / Accepted: 29 October 2020 # Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries exposed to natural disasters. This paper attempts to analyze the vulnerability of coastal areas of the Chittagong District in the southeastern coast of Bangladesh. This study explores the spatial variations of coastal vulnerability of the study area using three physical variables and four social variables with a spatial analytical method. In this regard, a Physical Vulnerability Index (PVI), and a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) have been prepared for the research area. Finally, a Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) was constructed within a geographic information system combining both PVI and CVI. The vulnerability indices reveal that the rural areas are more vulnerable to disaster than the urban areas. According to the PVI, SVI, and CVI about 66%, 48%, and 43% areas are highly vulnerable respectively. Despite of data limitations in constructing the PVI and SVI, this research is the first endeavor to apply a composite CVI based on geospatial techniques in the southeastern coast of Bangladesh. The CVI results illustrate that the coasts are the most vulnerable to flooding, storm surges and cyclones. In this study, CVI is presented as a tool to identify areas of vulnerability in the zones of the coastal district Chittagong. The CVI will serve as a practical guideline for policy makers to introduce policies and plans to mitigate the natural hazard-induced disaster impacts on the coastal Bangladesh. Keywords Coastal vulnerability index . Geospatial techniques . Chittagong District, . Bangladesh
Introduction Coastal Bangladesh is economically important, and the physiographic features of coastal Bangladesh are dynamic (Brammer 2013; Minar et al. 2013). It is characterized by a unique geographic location, low topography and extremely vulnerable funnel-shaped coast that exacerbates climate induced disasters (Sikder 2010). The impacts of climate change such as Sea Level Rise (SLR) and related disasters on coastal areas have become a matter of public concern (Crawley 2008; * Johni Miah [email protected] 1
Remote Sensing, Luftbilddatenbank Dr. Carls GmbH, Estenfeld/ Würzburg, Germany
2
Department of Remote Sensing, Earth Observation Center at the German Aerospace Center (DLR-EOC), Weßling, Germany
3
Earth Observation and Geoanalysis of the Living Environment (EAGLE), Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
4
Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Clavano 2012; Bathi and Das 2016; Mallari and Ezra 2016). The concept of vulnerability is not new. It has emerged primarily from social sciences dealing with environmental risks and hazard, climate variability and change along with im
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