A comparison of historical land-use change patterns and recommendations for flood plain developments in three delta regions in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Historical land-cover changes in three delta regions in Southeast Asia are assessed by using selected Landsat images from 1990 to 2005. Potential inundation areas of the delta regions for different return periods are estimated by using digital elevation model data and extreme-value distribution of annual maximum river discharges. The results indicate significant changes of natural land cover within the potential inundation areas due to agricultural exploitation and industrialization. Implications for flood-mitigation policies are discussed. There is a clear need for sustainable land-use management strategies in all three areas.

Keywords:

• Land use change
• flood
• Gumbel distribution
• delta regions

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (S-8) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), 2010–2013 (22404008, So Kazama).