2022 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 123-136
In order to prepare for future flood disasters in developing countries where geographic information and disaster records are often insufficient, it is important to utilize technology that can easily visualize and share hazard information and help residents understand local flood characteristics. In this study, we produced 3D images of a flood-prone area in the Republic of the Philippines using Google Earth and flood calculation results from the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) Model and then created a 3D flood hazard map of the area visualizing the relationships between building heights and inundation depths. In addition, we prepared educational materials on this hazard mapping method, and provided lectures and tutorials during the online training conducted to transfer the technology to the Philippine side. Our attempt revealed that 3D flood hazard maps can be easily created by local people and are useful for understanding inundation risks in the mapped areas. As Google Earth is free multilingual software, the 3D flood hazard mapping method proposed in this study can be readily utilized in developing countries, where budgets and geographical data are often limited.
