Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics, 2019, Vol. 7, No. 5, 237-244 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jgg/7/5/3 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jgg-7-5-3 Determination of the Lukanga Swamps Flood Boundary using Landsat Imagery, Rainfall and Water Level Data Alick R Mwanza 1,* , Edwin Nyirenda 2 , Wilma Nchito 3 1 Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia 2 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia 3 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia *Corresponding author: armwanza@unza.zm Received October 12, 2019; Revised November 14, 2019; Accepted December 08, 2019 Abstract The Lukanga Swamp is a major wetland situated in the Central Province of Zambia. It is Zambia’s fifth largest wetland whose flood boundary fluctuates with rainfall. Despite one of their many uses being that of flood control, they are no exceptions to this natural phenomenon - flooding. Hence, this study aimed at determining the most probable flood boundary of Lukanga swamps using Landsat images and rainfall data. Seasonal rainfall amounts received over the study area for the period 1972 – 2002, as well as the water level data of the swamp was used to determine wettest years as a means of selecting Landsat imagery which depicted flooding. Rainfall was determined by interpolating rainfall from adjacent meteorological stations as there is no such station in the study area. The selected Landsat imagery was used for delineation of the swamp’s likely maximum flood extent using Remote Sensing and GIS software. The most likely maximum flood extent was found to be 11,891 km 2 at peak flooding. Keywords: Lukanga Swamps, Wetland, Landsat imagery, Geographical Information System, flood boundary, rainfall interpolation, image processing Cite This Article: Alick R Mwanza, Edwin Nyirenda, and Wilma Nchito, “Determination of the Lukanga Swamps Flood Boundary using Landsat Imagery, Rainfall and Water Level Data.” Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics, vol. 7, no. 5 (2019): 237-244. doi: 10.12691/jgg-7-5-3. 1. Introduction Flood monitoring using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems technologies have become a need in the world. These technologies give quick and timely results. Knowing the extent of flooding and affected areas yields better risk estimates and preparedness for mitigation measures because despite floods claiming lives and causing property damage, humans have continued inhabiting areas threatened by floods. This has continued to be so because of the many benefits that the wetlands offer such as being very important livelihood sources and being habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. The Lukanga swamps of Central Zambia with the Kafue River passing a distance away from the main swamp experiences considerable flooding during which time the swamps and the river become one water body. Hydrological studies carried out in the area have cited lack of data on the spatial extent of the swamps especially during floods as a drawback in accurate studies. Hence the need to contribute knowledge about the most probable maximum flood boundary of the Lukanga swamps by employing remote sensing, image processing and GIS technologies to feed into other studies such as climate change and variability, hydrological modeling, environmental modeling and socio-economic studies. 1.1. Study Disposition The study commenced with the collection and analysis of rainfall and water level data for the period 1972 to 2002, from which the wettest years were ascertained. Landsat images [1,2] closely corresponding to the determined wettest seasons and months were then selected. But owing to the sparse availability of the Landsat imagery for the period of study only images for the years 1991, 2002 and 2005 were collected, hence used. Thereafter, the most appropriate and relevant bands were identified that were used in the images for delineating the flood boundary. Flood boundary extents were extracted for each of the years 1991, 2002, and 2005 which were then merged to come up with the most probable maximum flood boundary for the Lukanga Swamp. Figure 1 shows the methodology as explained in the study disposition. 2. Data and Methods Rainfall data [23] was collected for the period 1972 to 2002 for the study area and/or peripheral areas, information about when the swamp experienced floods, water level data of the swamps, a topographic map covering the entire swamps for reference, appropriate Landsat satellite images of the swamp and other adjuvant information useful in delineating the swamps’ maximum flood boundary were also collected.