An assessment of the integrated multi-criteria and new models efficiency in watershed flood mapping

Abstract Nowadays, with significant climate change, the trend of environmental hazards is increasing. In the meantime, floods have shown a growing trend than other hazards. Haraz watershed in northern Iran is prone to floods due to the heavy rainfall with irregular pattern. Therefore, combining different methods and examining new approaches is an essential step in the development of methods in this field. In the present study, Analytical Network Process, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process models were combined with Ordered Weighted Average, Weighted Linear Combination, Local Weighted Linear Combination models to prepare a flood risk map. The performance of two new models, Weighted Multi-Criteria Analysis and Geo-Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, was also evaluated in this field. The results of the models showed that in general the basin is in a moderate risk situation. Meanwhile, the south-eastern parts of the basin show a high flood risk situation. Also, by comparing the models, it was found that the combination of multi-criteria models and the use of Weighted Multi-Criteria Analysis and Geo-Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution models are very effective and efficient for preparing flood risk maps.