Spatial assessment
of forest fire susceptibility in the Kodaikanal hill range using GIS-based fuzzy
AHP
Vairaveni E., Suvish S. and Saravanavel J.
Disaster Advances; Vol. 19(1); 82-92;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/191da082092; (2026)
Abstract
Forest fires pose a significant threat to ecosystems, biodiversity and human livelihoods,
particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Kodaikanal Hill range in
Tamil Nadu, India. This study integrates Geographic Information System (GIS)-based
Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) to assess forest fire susceptibility
through a comprehensive spatial analysis. Key physiographic and climatic factors
including elevation, slope, aspect, temperature, precipitation and vegetation, were
prioritized using expert judgment and fuzzy logic. These factors were spatially
analyzed to produce a detailed forest fire susceptibility map for the region. Model
validation using historical fire data demonstrated high accuracy, classifying 31%
of the area as highly susceptible, 30% as moderately susceptible and 39% as less
susceptible. Proximity analysis further identified vulnerable infrastructure revealing
that 28.68% of road networks and 30% of settlement areas fall within high-risk zones.
The findings underscore the necessity for targeted mitigation strategies and highlight
the importance of incorporating spatial tools into forest management and disaster
preparedness. This study provides critical insights for policymakers, forest managers
and disaster management authorities, enabling informed decision-making to reduce
the adverse impacts of forest fires.
