Challenges in the generation of GIS-based risk management tools: the case of the Lower Parana Basin (Argentina)

CINTIA VARGAS; ELVIRA GENTILE; FEDERICO ARIEL ROBLEDO

Montevideo

Conferencia; WCRP Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, "Developing, Linking and Applying Climate Knowledge"; 2014

WCRP World Climate Research Programe

La Plata Basin is a highly populated region, with more than 200 million people. Different authors showed evidence of climatic and hydrological trends in the basin, which might be associated with climate change. One of the impacts of climate change in the region is the increased frequency of heavy rains and flooding both in river valleys and in urban areas. Several authors pointed out that the highest frequency of flooding would occur in the valley of the Rio Parana. Therefore, in this context, the development of tools that allow risk management decisions implies a serious challenge. Geomatics, understood as a set of disciplines that combine IT tools and space studies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite images; allows to easily handle and process information related not only to flood hazard but also to the exposed population and infrastructure. GIS works with vector elements, called information layers, which represent various elements of space. Thes e layers have associated quantifiable attributes and GIS provides algorithms to interrelate them, obtaining information that calculates the affected areas and quantifies damage (for example, a settlement is represented by a dot, which has a population numerical quantity, and if found within the floodplain, is recorded within the universe of population affected by the phenomenon). Literature on the subject shows the use of various techniques for risk analysis in a GIS environment, ranging from the generation of thematic maps to probabilistic risk indices. Numerous government agencies and research institutions include GIS in their tools of analysis and planning. This paper analyzes the challenges for the generation of risk management tools based on geomatics, within the area of the Lower Parana, Argentina, from Rosario to the mouth of the Rio Paraná de Las Palmas. To this purpose, the following information was surveyed: cartographic (paper and digital); demographic and socioec onomic as well as information on watercourses during major flooding episodes in order to combine it with the different coastline contours and depict the spatial extent of floods. By centralizing the information in a GIS it is sought: 1) to identify information gaps; 2) display in maps, charts and tables made on the basis of the information available, towns and settlements; population; industries; crops; roads; railways; and other infrastructure that may be affected by floods.