Potential Flooding Zonation Using Fuzzy Model in GIS, Case Study: Khiav Chai Basin (Meshkin Shahr)

Khiav Chai basin is located in Ardabil province as the sub basin of Gharasou basin. The main river of this basin is Khiav Chai basin originating from the Sabalan Mountain, which after passing through the Moeil valley flows into Gharasou River. Since the Meshkin Shahr city is located downstream of this basin and is facing the frequent danger of flooding, there should be special attention to prevent the flooding risk in this area. This study focuses on the zoning potential floods in Khiav Chai basin using the Fuzzy logic. To achieve this end, 8 parameters are used in this study including vegetation density, drainage density, distance from drainage, lithology, land use, rainfall, altitude and slope. In this model, all the layers with raster format were uploaded into the Arc GIS software. Then the layers were fuzzified according to their functions. In the next step, using different Fuzzy model functions, the zoning of the flooding of the basin was completed. The results showed that the valleys, thalwegs with concave slopes, and downstream areas were the most effective watershed areas in preventing flood hazards. The results of this research can help reduce the loss of life and property in downstream residential parts in the area, and can also be used as a basis for further studies in relation to natural hazards