Flood risk mapping based on the use of geospatial and multicriteria methods: ecological and economic aspects of sustainable development of Cotonou coastal urbanized agglomeration (Republic of Benin)
Rubrics: LAND RELATIONS AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Type:
Article
Pages:
from 456
to 462
Status:
In work
Received:
15.08.2026
Accepted:
15.08.2026
Published:
15.08.2026
Language:
Russian
Keywords:
urbanized areas, agglomerations, flood risk modeling and mapping
Abstract:
This publication presents the results of the authors' assessment of the risk of flooding in the urban agglomeration of Grand-Nokoué (Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Sèmè-Kpodji). The authors note that in the context of global warming and the associated increase in sea levels, the relevance of assessing the risks of coastal flooding has significantly increased. In the Republic of Benin, this problem is exacerbated by the specific features of the hydrological regime, which is characterized by the exogenous flow of precipitation from north to south. The most vulnerable area is the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration, located in the inter-equatorial zone between Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic Ocean. The methodological basis of the study includes a geoinformation approach that integrates the analysis of documentary sources, the processing of remote data, spatial modeling of flood risk, and multi-criteria analysis in a GIS environment. The spatial identification and classification of risk levels are carried out through the integral analysis of cartographic layers that characterize the factors of danger and vulnerability of the territory. The results of the quantitative assessment demonstrate the following distribution of flood risk categories within the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration: high risk – 19.97% of the territory, moderate – 50.25%, low – 29.77%. It has been established that the territory of the city of Cotonou is characterized by a predominance of high-risk areas (65% of the area), while this figure is 16% for the Abomey-Calavi plateau and 3% for Sèmè-Kpodji. The urbanized peripheral areas of Cotonou (Godomey, Kalavi, Akassato, Agblangandan, and Ekpe) are also at high risk of flooding. In conclusion, the authors point out that the results of this study can serve as a basis for developing a long-term and coordinated territorial planning strategy for the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration in order to sustainably manage the risks of potential flooding.
This publication presents the results of the authors' assessment of the risk of flooding in the urban agglomeration of Grand-Nokoué (Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Sèmè-Kpodji). The authors note that in the context of global warming and the associated increase in sea levels, the relevance of assessing the risks of coastal flooding has significantly increased. In the Republic of Benin, this problem is exacerbated by the specific features of the hydrological regime, which is characterized by the exogenous flow of precipitation from north to south. The most vulnerable area is the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration, located in the inter-equatorial zone between Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic Ocean. The methodological basis of the study includes a geoinformation approach that integrates the analysis of documentary sources, the processing of remote data, spatial modeling of flood risk, and multi-criteria analysis in a GIS environment. The spatial identification and classification of risk levels are carried out through the integral analysis of cartographic layers that characterize the factors of danger and vulnerability of the territory. The results of the quantitative assessment demonstrate the following distribution of flood risk categories within the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration: high risk – 19.97% of the territory, moderate – 50.25%, low – 29.77%. It has been established that the territory of the city of Cotonou is characterized by a predominance of high-risk areas (65% of the area), while this figure is 16% for the Abomey-Calavi plateau and 3% for Sèmè-Kpodji. The urbanized peripheral areas of Cotonou (Godomey, Kalavi, Akassato, Agblangandan, and Ekpe) are also at high risk of flooding. In conclusion, the authors point out that the results of this study can serve as a basis for developing a long-term and coordinated territorial planning strategy for the Grand-Nokoué agglomeration in order to sustainably manage the risks of potential flooding.
Keywords:
urbanized areas, agglomerations, flood risk modeling and mapping
urbanized areas, agglomerations, flood risk modeling and mapping
