Abstract

Coastal Bangladesh is one of the hotspots of tropical cyclone’s landfall in South Asia. A spatial vulnerability assessment is required to formulate disaster risk reduction strategies. This study develops a comprehensive tropical cyclone vulnerability mapping approach by applying Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and geospatial techniques and examines the spatial distribution of tropical cyclone vulnerability in the western coastal region of Bangladesh. We have selected 18 spatial criteria under the physical, social, and mitigation capacity categories as the components of vulnerability. Results indicate that the southern and south-eastern peripheral areas exhibit higher vulnerability to tropical cyclones since these areas comprise low elevation, gentle slope, closeness to the sea, a high number of historical cyclone tracks, vulnerable land cover classes (settlements and crops land), and poor socio-economic structures. These areas cover most of the Barguna, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, and southern parts of Satkhira, and Pirojpur districts. The existing mitigation capacity measures, for example, the construction of cyclone shelters, embankments, road networks, and effective warning systems in these areas are not adequate levels. The findings would be useful for policymakers and local authorities in formulating appropriate cyclone risk mitigation plans in coastal Bangladesh.

摘要

孟加拉国沿海地区是热带气旋登陆南亚的热点地区之一。需要进行空间脆弱性评估，以制定减少灾害风险的策略。这项研究通过应用模糊层次分析法（FAHP）和地理空间技术，开发了一种全面的热带气旋脆弱性制图方法，并研究了孟加拉国西部沿海地区热带气旋脆弱性的空间分布。我们在物理，社会和缓解能力类别下选择了18个空间标准作为脆弱性的组成部分。结果表明，南部和东南部外围地区对热带气旋的脆弱性更高，因为这些地区海拔低，坡度平缓，靠近海洋，历史悠久的旋风径，脆弱的土地覆盖类别（定居点和农作物土地）以及不良的社会经济结构。这些地区覆盖了大部分的Barguna，Khulna，Bagerhat，Jhalokati，Satkhira南部和Pirojpur地区。现有的缓解能力措施，例如在这些地区建设旋风避难所，堤防，道路网络和有效的预警系统，还不够充分。该发现对于决策者和地方当局在制定孟加拉国沿海地区适当的飓风风险缓解计划时将很有用。这些地区的路堤，道路网络和有效的警告系统不够充分。该发现对于决策者和地方当局在制定孟加拉国沿海地区适当的飓风风险缓解计划时将很有用。这些地区的路堤，道路网络和有效的警告系统不够充分。该发现对决策者和地方当局在制定孟加拉国沿海地区适当的飓风风险缓解计划时将很有用。