Data inputs for hazards models – Dominica, 2017-2025

Science Case Name

Multi-hazards in the Caribbean SIDS

Dataset Title

Data inputs for hazards models – Dominica, 2017-2025

Dataset Description

This record presents geospatial datasets (soil, land use, DEM, vegetation parameters, etc.) ready to be used as model input for OpenLISEM and LISEM Hazard or FastFlood. The projection of each file is in UTM20N. 

Some key files are:

• dem.map -elevation model, the height of the landscape in meters above sea level.
• lai.map - leaf area index, estimated using empirical relationships based on NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)). The source data to calculate NDVI is Sentinel-2.
• KSat.map - Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil, estimated based on a combination of SOILGRIDS soil texture, Saxton et al. (2006) Pedotransfer functions, and a national soil map for Dominica.
• clay.map - Clay texture fraction, SoilGrids resampling
• silt.map - Silt texture fraction, SoilGrids resampling
• sand.map - Sand texture fraction, SoilGrids resampling
• cover.map - Vegetation cover as a fraction, estimated using linear correlation with NDVI.
• lu_new.map - Spot satellite image classification at 10 meters resolution for predominant land use types.
• n.map - Mannings surface roughness coefficient, specific value based on the land use type. 
• ndvi.map - Normalized Differential Vegetation Index, based on Sentinel-2 images in summer.
• ldd.map - Drainage network map for the island, which can be used for flow accumulation and streamflow detection
• catchments.map - Catchment ID's based on the ldd.map drainage network.
• Channelldd.map - Channel-only drainage network map, calibrated manually to have all channels on the island represented correctly.
• Soildepth - Soil depth in meters, based on a physically-based soil depth model in meters and observational data obtained from landslide-sites during fieldwork in 2018.
• Slope.map - Slope map in gradient of the elevation  model (m/m) in the steepest direction

Key Methodologies

Customization of open-source datasets, generation of vegetation parameters and land cover classification.

Temporal Domain

2017-2025

Spatial Domain

Dominica

Key Indicators

Flood, soil, vegetation

Data Format

The raster files are either in Geotiff format or PCraster map format.

Source Data

Accessibility

Zenodo, 10.5281/zenodo.15224885

Stakeholder Relevance

Relevant input for hazard mapping, physically-based modelling, and understanding hazard processes on Dominica

Limitations/Assumptions

Some datasets depend on lower quality/global datasets, and are not specifically calibrated for the island. Others, such as soil depth, infiltration, soil textures, flood extents and vegetation properties, are all in some part verified and tweaked to represent local measurements. See for a methodological description the Msc Thesis work of students at UT-ITC between 2017 and 2025.

Contact Information

Bout, Bastian van den (UT-ITC)