Integrating Spatial Analysis and Community Knowledge for Identifying Flood-Prone Areas in Tamil Nadu, India

The dual forces of a warming climate and rapid urban growth are increasingly rendering cities vulnerable to flooding. Despite warnings embedded in oral histories and folk literature, indigenous knowledge is often overlooked, leaving cities to grapple with annual floods and underscoring the urgent need to identify critical areas for urban planning. This study addresses the issue in Tamil Nadu's coastal regions, employing proximity analysis, a GIS-based technique, to identify flood-prone areas by examining the spatial relationships among water bodies, settlements, and infrastructure. By integrating geospatial data with historical flood narratives and community oral histories, the research grounds technical findings in local experiences. The results highlight spatial vulnerability patterns, stressing the importance of protective zones and informed policy recommendations, including zoning laws, infrastructure planning, and community adaptation. This study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from humanities and urban planning to bridge technical analysis with local knowledge, demonstrating how digital humanities can enhance sustainable flood management and climate resilience.