Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.S. in Environmental Science, Geographic Information Science

Organizational Unit

College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Geography and the Environment

First Advisor

Andrew Goetz

Second Advisor

Guiming Zhang

Third Advisor

J. Michael Daniels

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Urban flooding, Flood mitigation, Green infrastructure, Sustainable urban planning, Geographic Information System (GIS), Urbanization, Climate adaption, Environmental management, Savannah, Georgia, Southeastern United States

Abstract

Flooding in coastal communities is shaped by the interaction between natural systems and urban development. Chatham County, a low-elevation region in the Savannah, Georgia metropolitan area along the eastern coast of the United States, is prone to coastal storms and frequently affected by flooding. It serves as a useful case study to better understand the factors behind flooding and the areas that are most at risk. This study uses GIS-based analysis to examine the overlap between flood risk, urban forest cover, and impervious surfaces. The results indicate elevated vulnerability along major transportation corridors and barrier islands, where high-risk flood zones coincide with limited vegetation and extensive development. These findings highlight priority areas for green infrastructure implementation, such as tree canopy expansion, permeable surface additions, and wetland preservation. This study provides a spatial framework to support urban planning efforts to reduce flood risk and improve environmental resilience.

Copyright Date

5-13-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Gillian Bush

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

40 pgs

File Size

11.4 MB

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