Methodological Framework for Flood Risk Assessment 23 METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT AMIR NAWAZ KHAN 1 , AMJAD ALI 1 , ZULFIQAR ALI 2 AND SAID QASIM 3 1 Centre for Disaster Preparedness and Management, University of Peshawar, 25120, Peshawar, Pakistan 2 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Peshawar, 25120, Peshawar, Pakistan 3 Department of Geography, Balochistan University, Quetta Abstract: Flood risk assessment is compound, complex and multi-disciplinary process. The real time-series or dynamic flood risk assessment needs advance technology. Even with the use of advance technologies, the high number of variables and their complex inter-relationship always delimit the accuracy of flood risk assessment. This study is focuses on developing a framework for flood risk assessment. In this framework, a mechanism of understanding of flood phenomena; enlisting of variables of elements at risk, hazard, vulnerability and capacity; a procedure of inter-variables relationship; and generalization of the method of flood risk assessment are discussed in detail. Based on study analysis, the risk of a flood hazard is dependent on four major variables; causes and intensifying factors of flood; water surface run-off (magnitude of flood); elements at risk, vulnerability and capacity; preparedness, emergency response system and mitigation of flood. 42 important variables of elements at risk, hazard, vulnerability and capacity are identified with their attribute data and nature of inter-variables interaction. Seven steps procedure of inter-variables relationship for flood risk assessment is discussed in the study. Multidisciplinary approach is the prerequisite to calculate the interactive impact of each variable. A Geographic Information System (GIS) based generalized method of flood risk assessment is developed. For flood risk assessment, GIS provides the basic platform for database, number of variables analysis and model generation. This framework for flood risk assessment could be used effectively in decision support system (DSS) avoiding floods related damages. Keywords: Flood, Risk Assessment, Modeling, GIS Introduction The devastating Floods–2010 affected more than 20 million people and 132,000 Sq. Km area of Pakistan. The intensity, duration and damages are unmatchable with all previous disasters, especially in the floods’ history of Pakistan. It has been observed that the Floods – 2010 was the joint episode of flash and riverine floods (GOP, 2011). It exposed the lack of capacity of the institutions to respond to extreme hydro- meteorological events in the country. For effective disaster management, there is a need for comprehensive disaster coping strategy and decision support system. The modern technology like Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Early Warning System, Emergency Response Equipment etc. play a vital role in providing this Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS provides a platform for gathering the information regarding disaster risk assessment, available disaster coping strategy, resources, level of risk and response J. Sc. & Tech. Univ. Peshawar, 2015, 39 (1), 23-35.