Arkansas 100-Year Flood Depth Model with Socioeconomic Vulnerability

Floodwater depths across Arkansas were modeled using the Floodwater Depth Estimation Tool (FwDET-GEE) with NASADEM and EnviroAtlas 100-year floodplain inputs. The dataset includes tract-level 2020 socioeconomic indicators like Social Vulnerability Index and median income. It was created by Brad Peter and colleagues, with associated work expected for publication in 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze correlation between mean flood depth (MN_DEPTH) and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the census tract level.
• Identify spatial clusters where high floodplain area (PC_FLD) coincides with high percent non-white population (PC_NWHT) using Bivariate Local Moran's I cluster categories (CL_PFNWH).
• Model the relationship between Index of Relative Rurality (IRR) and the percentage of land within the flood domain (PC_FLD).
• Assess flood exposure disparities by comparing median income (MED_INC) with modeled floodwater depths across tracts.

Strengths

• Model built on established FwDET-GEE methodology published in IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters.
• Integrates multiple data sources: NASADEM elevation, EnviroAtlas 100-year floodplain, and 2020 U.S. Census tract data.
• Provides derived cluster analysis (Bivariate Local Moran's I) for key socioeconomic and flood variables.

Limitations

• Dataset size, row count, and specific spatial resolution are not documented.
• Flood model is based on a 100-year event scenario and may not represent more frequent or extreme events.
• Socioeconomic data is from 2020 and may not reflect current demographic or economic conditions.

Provenance

Source

Brad Peter and collaborators, using FwDET-GEE, NASADEM, and EnviroAtlas data.

Collection Method

Floodwater depths modeled using Google Earth Engine implementation of FwDET with elevation and flood boundary inputs; socioeconomic data aggregated at census tract level.

Time Range

Socioeconomic data is for 2020; flood model represents a 100-year event scenario.

Freshness

Last updated April 2026; socioeconomic data is from 2020.

Geography

State of Arkansas, United States.