University of Sistan and Baluchestan Journal of Natural Environmental Hazards 2676-4377 13 42 2024 12 21 Evaluation and analysis of the physical development process of Gotvand City toward flood-prone areas Evaluation and analysis of the physical development process of Gotvand City toward flood-prone areas 15 30 8335 10.22111/jneh.2024.47298.2004 FA Majid Goodarzi Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Zahra Soltani Assistant Professor of Geography and Rural Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Aezam Ebrahimi Masters Student of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Journal Article 2023 11 26 In recent years, population growth has led to the physical development of some cities in flood-prone areas. Among the cities that have faced this problem are those of Gotvand in Khozestan Province. Considering the importance of the topic, in this research, the process of physical development of Gotvand towards flood-prone areas was investigated. In this study, the SRTM 30-meter-high digital model, Landsat satellite images, and digital information layers were used as the most important research data. The most important research software includes ArcGIS, Expert Choice, ENVI, and IDRISI. AHP and LCM fuzzy logic models were used in this study. According to the desired goals, this research was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, flood-prone areas were identified. In the second stage, land use changes were investigated, and in the third stage, the development process of residential areas towards flood-prone areas was evaluated. Based on the results, a large part of Gotvand City, including its eastern areas, has high flood potential. The results of the analysis of satellite images have shown that the physical development process of this city has also increased towards flood-prone areas so that in 1992, about 1.1 square kilometers of the urban area was located in an area with very high potential. It has been estimated that this amount has increased to 1.3, 1.6, and 1.8 square kilometers in 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively. Also, the results of the LCM model have shown that the size of residential areas on the floor with high flood potential will increase to 2.7 square kilometers by 2050. The population of Gotvand City faces life and financial losses due to flood risk. In recent years, population growth has led to the physical development of some cities in flood-prone areas. Among the cities that have faced this problem are those of Gotvand in Khozestan Province. Considering the importance of the topic, in this research, the process of physical development of Gotvand towards flood-prone areas was investigated. In this study, the SRTM 30-meter-high digital model, Landsat satellite images, and digital information layers were used as the most important research data. The most important research software includes ArcGIS, Expert Choice, ENVI, and IDRISI. AHP and LCM fuzzy logic models were used in this study. According to the desired goals, this research was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, flood-prone areas were identified. In the second stage, land use changes were investigated, and in the third stage, the development process of residential areas towards flood-prone areas was evaluated. Based on the results, a large part of Gotvand City, including its eastern areas, has high flood potential. The results of the analysis of satellite images have shown that the physical development process of this city has also increased towards flood-prone areas so that in 1992, about 1.1 square kilometers of the urban area was located in an area with very high potential. It has been estimated that this amount has increased to 1.3, 1.6, and 1.8 square kilometers in 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively. Also, the results of the LCM model have shown that the size of residential areas on the floor with high flood potential will increase to 2.7 square kilometers by 2050. The population of Gotvand City faces life and financial losses due to flood risk. https://jneh.usb.ac.ir/article_8335_77514d60746a20b8f3f23e3c9772b99c.pdf