Bozdağ et al. (2025) Development of a Rainwater Management Model in the Adaptation Process to Climate Change: the Case of Ni̇ğde

Identification

• Journal: Peyzaj Araştırmaları ve Uygulamaları Dergisi
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-31
• Authors: Mustafa Bozdağ, Fatma Lale Kaynak, Nuriye Ebru Yıldız, Barış Kahveci
• DOI: 10.56629/paud.1770413

Research Groups

• Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture

Short Summary

This study aimed to determine rainwater sensitivity in Niğde Province to inform rainwater management and develop landscape development strategies. It found that 2.1% of the province has very high to high rainwater sensitivity, 24.3% has moderate sensitivity, and 73.6% has low to very low sensitivity, providing a basis for risk-reducing landscape planning.

Objective

• To determine rainwater sensitivity in Niğde Province for the purpose of rainwater management and to develop landscape development strategies based on the resulting sensitivity classes.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Niğde Province, Türkiye (approximately 7264.76 square kilometers).
• Temporal Scale: The study assesses current rainwater sensitivity and proposes landscape management strategies across short-term (1–3 years), medium-term (3–7 years), and long-term (7+ years) horizons.

Methodology and Data

• Models used:
  • Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for weighting groundwater recharge and surface runoff potential indicators (adapted from Yıldız, 2022).
  • Hydrological Landscape Structure Analysis method (Buuren, 1994) for groundwater recharge assessment.
  • Surface Runoff Curve Number (SCS CN) method for surface runoff potential estimation.
  • Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation (IDW) for calculating annual total rainfall amount.
  • Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing Software (ArcGIS 10.7) for spatial analysis and mapping.
• Data sources:
  • Geological Formations (General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, 2022).
  • Soil Data (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, 2022).
  • Climate Bulletins (Precipitation, temperature, wind, etc.) (Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, General Directorate of Meteorology, 2024).
  • Türkiye’s Provincial Boundaries (General Directorate of Mapping, 2024).
  • Digital data on landscape structure (roads, water surfaces, etc.) (Open Street Map, 2024).
  • Digital data on land cover and settlement (COPERNICUS Land Monitoring Services, 2024).
  • Expert opinions (via AHP, adapted from Yıldız, 2022).

Main Results

• The integrated rainwater sensitivity map for Niğde Province classified areas as follows:
  • Very High and High sensitivity: 2.1% (15,557 hectares).
  • Moderate sensitivity: 24.3% (176,664 hectares).
  • Low and Very Low sensitivity: 73.6% (534,255 hectares).
• The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) assigned weights of 58% to groundwater recharge and 42% to surface runoff potential for determining overall rainwater sensitivity.
• Landscape conservation, development, and management strategies were developed based on these sensitivity levels, categorizing areas into those requiring protection and monitoring (low risk), control (medium risk), and improvement and development (high risk).
• High sensitivity areas, prone to high surface runoff and flooding, include the eastern part of Çamardı, southern Ulukışla, and regions along the boundary between the central district and Çamardı.

Contributions

• The study provides a novel integrated assessment of rainwater sensitivity for Niğde Province by evaluating groundwater recharge and surface runoff potential indicators together using a systems approach, rather than individually.
• It translates these findings into actionable, multi-temporal landscape planning strategies (short, medium, and long-term goals) for climate change adaptation.
• The developed integrated model is scalable and adaptable to other cities, enhancing its broader applicability for urban planning and disaster risk mitigation.
• It promotes a proactive planning approach to rainwater management, aiming to reduce risks before disasters occur, rather than merely responding to them.

Funding

• TÜBİTAK 2209/A Student Research Projects Support Programme (2023 2nd Term application, Application No: 1919B012316922)

Citation

@article{Bozdağ2025Development,
  author = {Bozdağ, Mustafa and Kaynak, Fatma Lale and Yıldız, Nuriye Ebru and Kahveci, Barış},
  title = {Development of a Rainwater Management Model in the Adaptation Process to Climate Change: the Case of Ni̇ğde},
  journal = {Peyzaj Araştırmaları ve Uygulamaları Dergisi},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.56629/paud.1770413},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.56629/paud.1770413}
}