Assessment of wildfire risk in Lebanon using geographic object-based image analysis

Abstract

During the past decade, Lebanon has experienced a large number of severe wildfires that have had significant social and ecological consequences. In this context, the assessment of wildfire risk is important to support planning of fire prevention measures and risk mitigation. The purpose of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of wildfire risk in Lebanon. The objectives were to identify and map (a) wildfire hazard, (b)wildfire vulnerability, and (c) wildfire risk. We developed a model using geospatial biophysical and climatic data and Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA). Development of the wildfire hazard map included classification of forest fuel type, combustibility, and fire spread whereas the vulnerability map included classification of demographic vulnerability (i.e., boundary, occupation and scatter indicators) and forest vulnerability (i.e., environmental and replacement values). The resulting geospatial map of wildfire risk provided important information for potential use in fire risk management.