Methodology and software solutions for multicriteria evaluation of floodplain retention suitability

Extreme flood events often have adverse effects for people living near or within areas at risk. Reactivating morphological river floodplains for flood retention measures can substantially reduce flood wave peaks and the negative flooding consequences. This article accordingly focuses on a methodology for identifying suitable locations for such measures by spatial multicriteria evaluation (MCE). Compromise programming (CP) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) are core methodological components. Furthermore, this methodology is based on impact analysis and draws on expert knowledge. This article also deals with software tools that support the operationalization of methodological components. Data harmonization algorithms are implemented as geoprocessing tools. Both CP and AHP are designed as software providing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). While an extension integrates CP into a geoinformation system, AHP is realized as a web application enabling participation of expert practitioners. The methodological components are operationalized through an example on the floodplains of the German river Elbe.