Analysis of Flood Vulnerability Maps Based on Proximity to Rivers and Land Use (Dynamic Pressure) Using the Pressure and Release (PAR) Model in Medan City

• M.Hafizd kurniawan

  State University of Medan

  Author

• Joel N.S Hutabarat

  Author

• Nursakila Harahap

  Author

• Dame O.S Marpaung

  Author

• Harlan N Situmorang

  Author

• M Farouq Ghazali Matondang

  Author

Flooding is the most frequent disaster in Medan City and has a significant impact on urban communities. This phenomenon is influenced not only by physical factors in the region, but also by dynamic pressures arising from changes in land use and residential development. This study aims to analyze flood vulnerability levels based on river distance and land use using the Pressure and Release (PAR) Model approach. The analysis was conducted spatially using a Geographic Information System (GIS) through the creation of river buffers, land use classification, vulnerability assessment, and the combination of these two variables to produce a flood vulnerability map of Medan City. The results show that areas within 0–100 meters of rivers and high-risk land uses such as dense settlements, rice fields, and fish ponds have the highest vulnerability levels. The most vulnerable areas include the banks of the Deli and Babura Rivers, the northern coastal zone, and dense settlements in the city center. Within the PAR Model framework, this vulnerability is an accumulation of major causes such as rapid urbanization and weak spatial control, dynamic pressures in the form of land use changes and loss of riverbank vegetation, and unsafe conditions such as dense settlements in low-lying areas. Socially, these conditions have an impact on increasing the vulnerability of urban communities, especially low-income groups who depend on river and coastal areas for shelter and livelihoods, thus potentially experiencing economic losses, disruption of daily activities, and limited capacity to adapt to flooding. The resulting vulnerability map is expected to serve as a basis for more inclusive flood mitigation and risk-based spatial planning, while also supporting efforts to raise awareness and social resilience among communities in reducing the impact of flooding in the city of Medan.

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