Flood detection and road flood estimation from aerial imagery using YOLOv9

Abstract

Heavy rainfall events frequently cause flooding, leading to road blockages in affected areas. These blockages hinder evacuation and recovery efforts, making it crucial to rapidly assess road conditions of the roads. In this study, we detect flooded areas using aerial imagery and estimate road flooding by overlaying the detected flooded regions with road data. Despite the challenge of false positives in areas with significant sediment and river regions, the detection of flooded road sections was generally successful. By overlaying the detected flooded regions with road data, it became possible to visualize the road flooding locations. The detection showed an error range of 0.4 to 8.4% in regions with low actual flood rates, indicating its utility in determining road passability.