Papers by Ashraf Abd El Karim
Geology, ecology, and landscapes, Feb 8, 2023
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Applied Geomatics, Jul 20, 2022
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Geosciences, 2020
Drainage basins in dry and semiarid environments are exposed to sudden, irregular flooding that p... more Drainage basins in dry and semiarid environments are exposed to sudden, irregular flooding that poses a threat to urban areas and infrastructure. The associated risk is exacerbated by land use changes. Geomorphometric analyses of drainage basins based on geographic information systems (GIS) are essential tools for assessing conceptual flood hazards. Geomorphological data extracted from high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) provide valuable information for modeling the geomorphic, surface classifications of the earth, and for flood hazard mapping. This study aimed to develop an integrative approach to the mapping of flood hazards along the Al-Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using GIS and hazard modeling for geomorphological ranking. Furthermore, we propose strategic solutions to provide mitigation and protection from negative impacts with the aim of improving the level of awareness of flood geomorphology. The hazard model of ...
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Sustainability, 2020
The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality of life in the districts of Buraidah city i... more The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality of life in the districts of Buraidah city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, based on provided services in terms of distance and time parameters. This was achieved by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based network analysis and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques. The service area analysis technique of the GIS Network Analysis tools was applied to the available services in the districts of Buraidah city. Twelve services were investigated with regard to their coverage within 5, 10, and 15 minutes of travel time: universities, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, hospitals, health centers, ambulance facilities, government services, religious services, security services, sports services, and recreational services. GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) was implemented in the study to obtain a spatial suitability map of the standard of living qua...
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Journal of Geographic Information System, 2019
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Sustainability, 2019
The current study aimed at measuring the impact of the change in land-use morphology on the incre... more The current study aimed at measuring the impact of the change in land-use morphology on the increase of flood risk through its application to the case of the Riyadh–Dammam train track in Saudi Arabia. The track was exposed to drift on 18 February 2017, over a length of 10 km, in the district of Dhahran in the capital of Dammam. Flooding caused the train to drift off its track and resulted in damage to lives, property, and infrastructure. This resulted from human interventions in the preplanning land uses and changing the morphology of the land by encroaching on the valleys, which resulted in the loss of the environmental and ecological balance in the study area. In order to achieve these goals, land-use changes in the study area were monitored by analyzing successive images from the GEO-I-1 satellite with a resolution of 60 cm for the years 2011 and 2017, before and after the train drift, using the maximum likelihood classification process provided in ERDAS IMAGINE 2016. GIS was use...
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Various infrastructure in Saudi Arabia are affecting by floods and rainfall that may damage const... more Various infrastructure in Saudi Arabia are affecting by floods and rainfall that may damage construction at urban areas within its zone because the water flows in main valleys and streams. Jizan-Abha Highway recently affected by flood outflow risks that cause lost in properties, people, and infrastructure along with sunk the most of the near urban settlements. This study presents a proposal of new methods to assess expected flood risks that impacted the infrastructure projects by simulate Jizan-Abha Highway modeling case. The model will be based on the integration between hydrological and hydraulic modeling. It will develop a classification map of the flood risk impacted areas along the Jizan-Abha Highway, and settled the solution maps with suggested and proper alternatives to scram those flood risks. The study based on applying the WMS program to draw valleys and outflow basins and compute their morpho metric
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Water, 2019
This study aims to assess the impact of flash floods in the Wadi Nu’man basin on urban areas, eas... more This study aims to assess the impact of flash floods in the Wadi Nu’man basin on urban areas, east of Mecca, which are subjected to frequent floods, during the period from 1988–2019. By producing and analyzing the maps of the regions, an integrated approach to geomatics and hydraulic modelling is employed. The following maps are used: Flood-prone urbanity from 1988–2019, a flood risk map of Wadi Nu’man based on a risk matrix map, and a map of the proposed protection measures and alternatives in the study area. In order to achieve these goals, changes in the land use in the Wadi Nu’man basin were monitored by analyzing successive satellite images, taken by the US satellite, Landsat, in 1988, 1998, 2013, and 2019. Using a supervised classification, with the maximum likelihood method of ERDAS IMAGINE 2016, GIS was used in the production and analysis of soil maps, and geological and hydrological groups of drainage basins, as well as the hydrological model (HEC-HMS), were applied in calc...
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Sensors, 2019
This study deals with the use of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), hydr... more This study deals with the use of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), hydrologic modeling (water modeling system, WMS), and hydraulic modeling (Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, HEC-RAS) to evaluate the impact of flash flood hazards on the sustainable urban development of Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Determining the impact of flood hazards on the urban area and developing alternatives for protection and prevention measures were the main aims of this work. Tabuk City is exposed to frequent flash flooding due to its location along the outlets of five major wadis. These wadis frequently carry flash floods, seriously impacting the urban areas of the city. WMS and HEC-HMS models and RS data were used to determine the paths and morphological characteristics of the wadis, the hydrographic flow of different drainage basins, flow rates and volumes, and the expansion of agricultural and urban areas from 1998 to 2018. Finally, hydraulic m...
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Water, 2020
Understanding the dynamics of floods in dry environments and predicting an accurate flood hazard ... more Understanding the dynamics of floods in dry environments and predicting an accurate flood hazard map considering multiple standards and conflicting objectives is of great political and planning importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the year 2030, in order to reduce losses in lives, property, and infrastructure. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a flood vulnerability map identifying flood-prone areas along the Al-Shamal train railway pathway; (2) to forecast the vulnerability of urban areas, agricultural land, and infrastructure to possible future floods hazard; and (3) to introduce strategic solutions and recommendations to mitigate and protect such areas from the negative impacts of floods. In order to achieve these objectives, multicriteria decision analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) is used to build a flood hazard map of the study area. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to extract the weights of eight criteria ...
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Environments
The management of land use in big cities and capitals and the surrounding adjacent urban aggregat... more The management of land use in big cities and capitals and the surrounding adjacent urban aggregates is still of major importance in the field of urban development, especially in cities with populations of millions and various types of land uses and economic activities. The rural–urban continuum between the cities of Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj suffers from an unclear general land use trend, due to urban expansion at the expense of the agriculture lands, the imbalance of the population compound, the deterioration of the urban fabric, lack and poor distribution of services, and the dominance of industrial land use at the expense of other uses. These factors have led to an increase in environmental changes and loss of the environmental and ecological characteristics of this area between Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj. The present study aims at evaluating the land use suitability for urban development in the rural–urban continuum between Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj cities. This is achieved by using the G...
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Environments
The management of land use in big cities and capitals and the surrounding adjacent urban aggregat... more The management of land use in big cities and capitals and the surrounding adjacent urban aggregates is still of major importance in the field of urban development, especially in cities with populations of millions and various types of land uses and economic activities. The rural–urban continuum between the cities of Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj suffers from an unclear general land use trend, due to urban expansion at the expense of the agriculture lands, the imbalance of the population compound, the deterioration of the urban fabric, lack and poor distribution of services, and the dominance of industrial land use at the expense of other uses. These factors have led to an increase in environmental changes and loss of the environmental and ecological characteristics of this area between Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj. The present study aims at evaluating the land use suitability for urban development in the rural–urban continuum between Ar Riyadh and Al Kharj cities. This is achieved by using the G...
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Water, 2020
Understanding the dynamics of floods in dry environments and predicting an accurate flood
hazard ... more Understanding the dynamics of floods in dry environments and predicting an accurate flood
hazard map considering multiple standards and conflicting objectives is of great political and planning
importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the year 2030, in order to reduce losses in
lives, property, and infrastructure. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a flood vulnerability
map identifying flood-prone areas along the Al-Shamal train railway pathway; (2) to forecast the
vulnerability of urban areas, agricultural land, and infrastructure to possible future floods hazard; and
(3) to introduce strategic solutions and recommendations to mitigate and protect such areas from the
negative impacts of floods. In order to achieve these objectives, multicriteria decision analysis based
on geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) is used to build a flood hazard map of the study
area. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to extract the weights of eight criteria which
aect the areas which are prone to flooding hazards, including flow accumulation, distance from the
wadi network, slope, rainfall density, drainage density, and rainfall speed. Furthermore, the receiver
operating characteristic (ROC Curve) method is used to validate the presented flood hazard model.
The results of the study reveal that there are five degrees of flooding hazard along the Al-Shamal train
path, ranging from very high to very low. The high and very high hazard zones comprise 19.2 km
along the path, which constitutes about 26.45% of the total path length, and are concentrated at the
intersections of the Al-Shamal train pathway with the Bayer and Al-Makhrouk wadis. Moderate, low,
and very low flood severity areas constitute nearly 53.39 km, representing 73.55% of the total length
(72.59 km) of the track. These areas are concentrated at the intersection of the Al-Shamal train track
with the Haseidah Al-Gharbiyeh and Hsaidah Umm Al-Nakhleh wadis. Urban and agricultural areas
that are vulnerable to high and very high flooding hazards are shown to have areas of 29.23 km2
(22.12%) and 59.87 km2 (46.39%), respectively
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Geosciences, 2020
Drainage basins in dry and semiarid environments are exposed to sudden, irregular
flooding that p... more Drainage basins in dry and semiarid environments are exposed to sudden, irregular
flooding that poses a threat to urban areas and infrastructure. The associated risk is exacerbated by
land use changes. Geomorphometric analyses of drainage basins based on geographic information
systems (GIS) are essential tools for assessing conceptual flood hazards. Geomorphological data
extracted from high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) provide valuable information for
modeling the geomorphic, surface classifications of the earth, and for flood hazard mapping. This
study aimed to develop an integrative approach to the mapping of flood hazards along the Al-
Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using GIS and
hazard modeling for geomorphological ranking. Furthermore, we propose strategic solutions to
provide mitigation and protection from negative impacts with the aim of improving the level of
awareness of flood geomorphology. The hazard model of geomorphological ranking was used in
mapping and calculating the degree of hazards using 24 geomorphometric criteria. These criteria
were divided into formal criteria, terrain criteria, and criteria related to the drainage network. The
results of the study revealed that the drainage sub-basins are exposed to flood hazards along the
Al-Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat. The very high flood hazard constituted 4228.3
km2, accounting for 70.3% and 65.7%, respectively, of the drainage basins of the wadis of Makhrouq
and Bayer. The high flood hazard represented 61% (4712.4 km2) of the basin of the wadis of
Sarmadaa. The medium flood hazard was concentrated in the drainage basin of the wadi of
Hasidah, accounting for nearly 57.7% (1271.3 km2). The very low flood hazard was present in 46.5%
of the drainage basin of the wadis of Hasidah Umm Nakhla, accounting for an area of 799.4 km2.
The methodology applied in this study can be used in the estimation of flood hazards in different
drainage basins throughout Saudi Arabia and in similar arid regions
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Sustainability , 2020
The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality of life in the districts of Buraidah city i... more The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality of life in the districts of Buraidah city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, based on provided services in terms of distance and time parameters. This was achieved by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based network analysis and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques. The service area analysis technique of the GIS Network Analysis tools was applied to the available services in the districts of Buraidah city. Twelve services were investigated with regard to their coverage within 5, 10, and 15 minutes of travel time: universities, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, hospitals, health centers, ambulance facilities, government services, religious services, security services, sports services, and recreational services. GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) was implemented in the study to obtain a spatial suitability map of the standard of living quality in the various districts in Buraidah city. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique was used to determine the criteria weights. The location-allocation model was used in the study as well for suggestions of new service locations to improve the spatial distribution of services and enhance the quality of life in the districts. The results of the final suitability map to determine districts with the best standard of living according to the provided services show that the living standards in the city are very good, with very high and high levels in around 51 districts, representing 72.9% (449,235 people), and about 19 districts with moderate, low, and very low levels, representing 27.1% (56,765 people). Narrowing the quality of life gap and improving spatial planning requires correcting the current deficiency in services, which is estimated in this study to be 16 services: one high school, one elementary school, one middle school, two universities, one sports service, two security services, two courts, two hospitals, one health center, one park, and two ambulance facilities.
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Sustainability, 2019
The current study aimed at measuring the impact of the change in land-use morphology
on the incre... more The current study aimed at measuring the impact of the change in land-use morphology
on the increase of flood risk through its application to the case of the Riyadh–Dammam train track
in Saudi Arabia. The track was exposed to drift on 18 February 2017, over a length of 10 km, in the
district of Dhahran in the capital of Dammam. Flooding caused the train to drift off its track and
resulted in damage to lives, property, and infrastructure. This resulted from human interventions
in the preplanning land uses and changing the morphology of the land by encroaching on the
valleys, which resulted in the loss of the environmental and ecological balance in the study area .In
order to achieve these goals, land-use changes in the study area were monitored by analyzing
successive images from the GEO-I-1 satellite with a resolution of 60 cm for the years 2011 and 2017,
before and after the train drift, using the maximum likelihood classification process provided in
ERDAS IMAGINE 2016. GIS was used in the processing of 1 m digital elevation models to extract
the morphological changes of the wadies between 2011 and 2017. A hydrological model (HEC–
HMS) was used in calculating the (flood) hydrograph curve of the wadies basins and estimating the
calculation of flood water quantities and its flow rates based on the Soil Conservation Services (SCS)
Unit Hydrograph Method. Rain depth was analyzed and estimated for different return periods. The
HEC–RAS hydraulic modeling program was employed in developing a 2D model to calculate the
velocity, depth, and spread of the flood in order to apply the risk matrix method.
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Water, MDPI, 2019
This study aims to assess the impact of flash floods in theWadi Nu’man basin on urban areas,
east... more This study aims to assess the impact of flash floods in theWadi Nu’man basin on urban areas,
east of Mecca, which are subjected to frequent floods, during the period from 1988–2019. By producing
and analyzing the maps of the regions, an integrated approach to geomatics and hydraulic modelling
is employed. The following maps are used: Flood-prone urbanity from 1988–2019, a flood risk
map ofWadi Nu’man based on a risk matrix map, and a map of the proposed protection measures
and alternatives in the study area. In order to achieve these goals, changes in the land use in the
Wadi Nu’man basin were monitored by analyzing successive satellite images, taken by the US
satellite, Landsat, in 1988, 1998, 2013, and 2019. Using a supervised classification, with the maximum
likelihood method of ERDAS IMAGINE 2016, GIS was used in the production and analysis of soil
maps, and geological and hydrological groups of drainage basins, as well as the hydrological model
(HEC-HMS), were applied in calculating the hydrograph curve of the Wadi Nu’man basin. The flood
water volumes and flow rates were estimated based on the SCS unit hydrograph, and the rain depth
was analyzed and estimated for dierent periods. The hydraulic modeling program (HEC-RAS) was
employed, when developing a two-dimensional model to calculate the speed, depth, and spread
of the flood, in order to apply the risk matrix method. The recommendations based on this study
give priority to the implementation of a flood prevention plan and the protection of infrastructure by
maintaining the existing flood drainage facilities and establishing new drainage facilities to protect
lives, property, and infrastructure
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Global Journal of Engineering Science and Research Management, 2019
Associate professor of urban planning and flood risks using geographic information system (GIS) i... more Associate professor of urban planning and flood risks using geographic information system (GIS) in the research center, ministry of housing in KSA, He participated as an expert and consultant in preparing seventy-two of planning and applied workers in flood risks related to Hydrological and Hydraulic analytics. Author
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Journal of Geographic Information System, 2019
In this study, accessibility and location-allocation models have been integrated into GIS to impr... more In this study, accessibility and location-allocation models have been integrated into GIS to improve spatial planning and environmental sustainability of health services in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. This integration provides a planning framework in order to check the efficiency of the spatial allocation of health services and to generate alternatives either by proposing an active service or to improve an existing one. To achieve these objectives, the accessibility to the service area was analyzed within the analysis of health services networks, which are divided into eight types: public hospitals, specialized hospitals, health units, healthcare centers, infirmaries, clinic complexes, the Red Crescent Center, and ambulance facilities, with time intervals of (5 minutes -10 minutes-15 minutes) to access coverage ranges, and the location allocation model was used based on the maximum coverage model within a response time not exceeding 15 minutes, The results of the study revealed the poor distribution of health services Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah suffers from weak accessibility to health services coverage areas and is unable to meet the needs of its population at present. The current need for health services reached twenty-four locations, including two public hospitals, three specialized hospitals, two health centers, three ambulance facilities, four infirmaries , three clinic complexes, four health units, and three Red Crescent centers.
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This study deals with the use of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), hydr... more This study deals with the use of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), hydrologic modeling (water modeling system, WMS), and hydraulic modeling (Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, HEC-RAS) to evaluate the impact of flash flood hazards on the sustainable urban development of Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Determining the impact of flood hazards on the urban area and developing alternatives for protection and prevention measures were the main aims of this work. Tabuk City is exposed to frequent flash flooding due to its location along the outlets of five major wadis. These wadis frequently carry flash floods, seriously impacting the urban areas of the city. WMS and HEC-HMS models and RS data were used to determine the paths and morphological characteristics of the wadis, the hydrographic flow of different drainage basins, flow rates and volumes, and the expansion of agricultural and urban areas from 1998 to 2018. Finally, hydraulic modeling of the HEC-RAS program was applied to delineate the urban areas that could be inundated with floodwater. Ultimately, the most suitable remedial measures are proposed to protect the future sustainable urban development of Tabuk City from flood hazards. This approach is rarely used in the KSA. We propose a novel method that could help decision-makers and planners in determining inundated flood zones before planning future urban and agricultural development in the KSA.
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Uploads
Papers by Ashraf Abd El Karim
hazard map considering multiple standards and conflicting objectives is of great political and planning
importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the year 2030, in order to reduce losses in
lives, property, and infrastructure. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a flood vulnerability
map identifying flood-prone areas along the Al-Shamal train railway pathway; (2) to forecast the
vulnerability of urban areas, agricultural land, and infrastructure to possible future floods hazard; and
(3) to introduce strategic solutions and recommendations to mitigate and protect such areas from the
negative impacts of floods. In order to achieve these objectives, multicriteria decision analysis based
on geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) is used to build a flood hazard map of the study
area. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to extract the weights of eight criteria which
aect the areas which are prone to flooding hazards, including flow accumulation, distance from the
wadi network, slope, rainfall density, drainage density, and rainfall speed. Furthermore, the receiver
operating characteristic (ROC Curve) method is used to validate the presented flood hazard model.
The results of the study reveal that there are five degrees of flooding hazard along the Al-Shamal train
path, ranging from very high to very low. The high and very high hazard zones comprise 19.2 km
along the path, which constitutes about 26.45% of the total path length, and are concentrated at the
intersections of the Al-Shamal train pathway with the Bayer and Al-Makhrouk wadis. Moderate, low,
and very low flood severity areas constitute nearly 53.39 km, representing 73.55% of the total length
(72.59 km) of the track. These areas are concentrated at the intersection of the Al-Shamal train track
with the Haseidah Al-Gharbiyeh and Hsaidah Umm Al-Nakhleh wadis. Urban and agricultural areas
that are vulnerable to high and very high flooding hazards are shown to have areas of 29.23 km2
(22.12%) and 59.87 km2 (46.39%), respectively
flooding that poses a threat to urban areas and infrastructure. The associated risk is exacerbated by
land use changes. Geomorphometric analyses of drainage basins based on geographic information
systems (GIS) are essential tools for assessing conceptual flood hazards. Geomorphological data
extracted from high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) provide valuable information for
modeling the geomorphic, surface classifications of the earth, and for flood hazard mapping. This
study aimed to develop an integrative approach to the mapping of flood hazards along the Al-
Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using GIS and
hazard modeling for geomorphological ranking. Furthermore, we propose strategic solutions to
provide mitigation and protection from negative impacts with the aim of improving the level of
awareness of flood geomorphology. The hazard model of geomorphological ranking was used in
mapping and calculating the degree of hazards using 24 geomorphometric criteria. These criteria
were divided into formal criteria, terrain criteria, and criteria related to the drainage network. The
results of the study revealed that the drainage sub-basins are exposed to flood hazards along the
Al-Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat. The very high flood hazard constituted 4228.3
km2, accounting for 70.3% and 65.7%, respectively, of the drainage basins of the wadis of Makhrouq
and Bayer. The high flood hazard represented 61% (4712.4 km2) of the basin of the wadis of
Sarmadaa. The medium flood hazard was concentrated in the drainage basin of the wadi of
Hasidah, accounting for nearly 57.7% (1271.3 km2). The very low flood hazard was present in 46.5%
of the drainage basin of the wadis of Hasidah Umm Nakhla, accounting for an area of 799.4 km2.
The methodology applied in this study can be used in the estimation of flood hazards in different
drainage basins throughout Saudi Arabia and in similar arid regions
on the increase of flood risk through its application to the case of the Riyadh–Dammam train track
in Saudi Arabia. The track was exposed to drift on 18 February 2017, over a length of 10 km, in the
district of Dhahran in the capital of Dammam. Flooding caused the train to drift off its track and
resulted in damage to lives, property, and infrastructure. This resulted from human interventions
in the preplanning land uses and changing the morphology of the land by encroaching on the
valleys, which resulted in the loss of the environmental and ecological balance in the study area .In
order to achieve these goals, land-use changes in the study area were monitored by analyzing
successive images from the GEO-I-1 satellite with a resolution of 60 cm for the years 2011 and 2017,
before and after the train drift, using the maximum likelihood classification process provided in
ERDAS IMAGINE 2016. GIS was used in the processing of 1 m digital elevation models to extract
the morphological changes of the wadies between 2011 and 2017. A hydrological model (HEC–
HMS) was used in calculating the (flood) hydrograph curve of the wadies basins and estimating the
calculation of flood water quantities and its flow rates based on the Soil Conservation Services (SCS)
Unit Hydrograph Method. Rain depth was analyzed and estimated for different return periods. The
HEC–RAS hydraulic modeling program was employed in developing a 2D model to calculate the
velocity, depth, and spread of the flood in order to apply the risk matrix method.
east of Mecca, which are subjected to frequent floods, during the period from 1988–2019. By producing
and analyzing the maps of the regions, an integrated approach to geomatics and hydraulic modelling
is employed. The following maps are used: Flood-prone urbanity from 1988–2019, a flood risk
map ofWadi Nu’man based on a risk matrix map, and a map of the proposed protection measures
and alternatives in the study area. In order to achieve these goals, changes in the land use in the
Wadi Nu’man basin were monitored by analyzing successive satellite images, taken by the US
satellite, Landsat, in 1988, 1998, 2013, and 2019. Using a supervised classification, with the maximum
likelihood method of ERDAS IMAGINE 2016, GIS was used in the production and analysis of soil
maps, and geological and hydrological groups of drainage basins, as well as the hydrological model
(HEC-HMS), were applied in calculating the hydrograph curve of the Wadi Nu’man basin. The flood
water volumes and flow rates were estimated based on the SCS unit hydrograph, and the rain depth
was analyzed and estimated for dierent periods. The hydraulic modeling program (HEC-RAS) was
employed, when developing a two-dimensional model to calculate the speed, depth, and spread
of the flood, in order to apply the risk matrix method. The recommendations based on this study
give priority to the implementation of a flood prevention plan and the protection of infrastructure by
maintaining the existing flood drainage facilities and establishing new drainage facilities to protect
lives, property, and infrastructure
hazard map considering multiple standards and conflicting objectives is of great political and planning
importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the year 2030, in order to reduce losses in
lives, property, and infrastructure. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a flood vulnerability
map identifying flood-prone areas along the Al-Shamal train railway pathway; (2) to forecast the
vulnerability of urban areas, agricultural land, and infrastructure to possible future floods hazard; and
(3) to introduce strategic solutions and recommendations to mitigate and protect such areas from the
negative impacts of floods. In order to achieve these objectives, multicriteria decision analysis based
on geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) is used to build a flood hazard map of the study
area. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to extract the weights of eight criteria which
aect the areas which are prone to flooding hazards, including flow accumulation, distance from the
wadi network, slope, rainfall density, drainage density, and rainfall speed. Furthermore, the receiver
operating characteristic (ROC Curve) method is used to validate the presented flood hazard model.
The results of the study reveal that there are five degrees of flooding hazard along the Al-Shamal train
path, ranging from very high to very low. The high and very high hazard zones comprise 19.2 km
along the path, which constitutes about 26.45% of the total path length, and are concentrated at the
intersections of the Al-Shamal train pathway with the Bayer and Al-Makhrouk wadis. Moderate, low,
and very low flood severity areas constitute nearly 53.39 km, representing 73.55% of the total length
(72.59 km) of the track. These areas are concentrated at the intersection of the Al-Shamal train track
with the Haseidah Al-Gharbiyeh and Hsaidah Umm Al-Nakhleh wadis. Urban and agricultural areas
that are vulnerable to high and very high flooding hazards are shown to have areas of 29.23 km2
(22.12%) and 59.87 km2 (46.39%), respectively
flooding that poses a threat to urban areas and infrastructure. The associated risk is exacerbated by
land use changes. Geomorphometric analyses of drainage basins based on geographic information
systems (GIS) are essential tools for assessing conceptual flood hazards. Geomorphological data
extracted from high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) provide valuable information for
modeling the geomorphic, surface classifications of the earth, and for flood hazard mapping. This
study aimed to develop an integrative approach to the mapping of flood hazards along the Al-
Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using GIS and
hazard modeling for geomorphological ranking. Furthermore, we propose strategic solutions to
provide mitigation and protection from negative impacts with the aim of improving the level of
awareness of flood geomorphology. The hazard model of geomorphological ranking was used in
mapping and calculating the degree of hazards using 24 geomorphometric criteria. These criteria
were divided into formal criteria, terrain criteria, and criteria related to the drainage network. The
results of the study revealed that the drainage sub-basins are exposed to flood hazards along the
Al-Shamal train pathway in the city of Qurayyat. The very high flood hazard constituted 4228.3
km2, accounting for 70.3% and 65.7%, respectively, of the drainage basins of the wadis of Makhrouq
and Bayer. The high flood hazard represented 61% (4712.4 km2) of the basin of the wadis of
Sarmadaa. The medium flood hazard was concentrated in the drainage basin of the wadi of
Hasidah, accounting for nearly 57.7% (1271.3 km2). The very low flood hazard was present in 46.5%
of the drainage basin of the wadis of Hasidah Umm Nakhla, accounting for an area of 799.4 km2.
The methodology applied in this study can be used in the estimation of flood hazards in different
drainage basins throughout Saudi Arabia and in similar arid regions
on the increase of flood risk through its application to the case of the Riyadh–Dammam train track
in Saudi Arabia. The track was exposed to drift on 18 February 2017, over a length of 10 km, in the
district of Dhahran in the capital of Dammam. Flooding caused the train to drift off its track and
resulted in damage to lives, property, and infrastructure. This resulted from human interventions
in the preplanning land uses and changing the morphology of the land by encroaching on the
valleys, which resulted in the loss of the environmental and ecological balance in the study area .In
order to achieve these goals, land-use changes in the study area were monitored by analyzing
successive images from the GEO-I-1 satellite with a resolution of 60 cm for the years 2011 and 2017,
before and after the train drift, using the maximum likelihood classification process provided in
ERDAS IMAGINE 2016. GIS was used in the processing of 1 m digital elevation models to extract
the morphological changes of the wadies between 2011 and 2017. A hydrological model (HEC–
HMS) was used in calculating the (flood) hydrograph curve of the wadies basins and estimating the
calculation of flood water quantities and its flow rates based on the Soil Conservation Services (SCS)
Unit Hydrograph Method. Rain depth was analyzed and estimated for different return periods. The
HEC–RAS hydraulic modeling program was employed in developing a 2D model to calculate the
velocity, depth, and spread of the flood in order to apply the risk matrix method.
east of Mecca, which are subjected to frequent floods, during the period from 1988–2019. By producing
and analyzing the maps of the regions, an integrated approach to geomatics and hydraulic modelling
is employed. The following maps are used: Flood-prone urbanity from 1988–2019, a flood risk
map ofWadi Nu’man based on a risk matrix map, and a map of the proposed protection measures
and alternatives in the study area. In order to achieve these goals, changes in the land use in the
Wadi Nu’man basin were monitored by analyzing successive satellite images, taken by the US
satellite, Landsat, in 1988, 1998, 2013, and 2019. Using a supervised classification, with the maximum
likelihood method of ERDAS IMAGINE 2016, GIS was used in the production and analysis of soil
maps, and geological and hydrological groups of drainage basins, as well as the hydrological model
(HEC-HMS), were applied in calculating the hydrograph curve of the Wadi Nu’man basin. The flood
water volumes and flow rates were estimated based on the SCS unit hydrograph, and the rain depth
was analyzed and estimated for dierent periods. The hydraulic modeling program (HEC-RAS) was
employed, when developing a two-dimensional model to calculate the speed, depth, and spread
of the flood, in order to apply the risk matrix method. The recommendations based on this study
give priority to the implementation of a flood prevention plan and the protection of infrastructure by
maintaining the existing flood drainage facilities and establishing new drainage facilities to protect
lives, property, and infrastructure