| dc.description.abstract | This study investigates the relationship between Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes and urban flooding in
the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD). The research objectives include analysing
flooding patterns, mapping LULC changes, and assessing the correlation between these changes and flooding
occurrences. Additionally, a temporal rainfall variation analysis was conducted to provide further context. The
study employed Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, specifically utilising ArcGIS for LULC
classification and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation technique for rainfall data. The analysis reveals
a clear association between heightened precipitation and major flood events. In 2010, the flood inundation area
was 5.762 km² during the major flood in May, despite a monthly rainfall of over 650mm. However, in 2016, with
over 700 mm of rainfall in May, the flood-inundated area was reduced to 4.046 km², highlighting the role of other
factors such as wetland recovery. Moreover, it identifies significant LULC changes, emphasising rapid urbanisation
and wetland decline. From 2009 to 2018, built-up areas increased from 11.49 km² to 14.18 km², while wetlands
decreased from 2.29 km² in 2009 to 1.19 km² in 2015, before recovering slightly to 1.58 km² by 2018. The expansion
of built-up areas is found to slightly increase flood risks, while wetland recovery acts as a natural flood buffer. This
research underscores the importance of targeted interventions for urban flood resilience, such as flood-resistant
infrastructure and wetland management. The findings provide critical insights for evidence-based urban planning
and flood management strategies, aiming to create more resilient and sustainable urban environments. | en_US |
