Comparing the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map with the April 2025 Flood Event in Frankfort, KY using Satellite Imagery
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Earth & Environmental Sciences - Geography & GIS
Minor
Unmanned Aerial Systems
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Haluk Cetin
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
This research compared the extent of the April 2025 flood event in Frankfort, KY to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of Frankfort produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The methods used included using imagery from before and after the flood from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 and 9 satellites to measure the increase in surface water and comparing this to the predicted increase in surface water by the FEMA FIRM. The results showed that the FEMA FIRM did not perfectly capture all of the areas that would be flooded. However, overall, the FEMA FIRM showed a greater flooding extent than what occurred in April of 2025 in Frankfort, which is adequate for its purpose. This research showed how remote sensing tools could be used for assessing flood risk and the accuracy of flood predictions. The results of this research can be taken into consideration for future updates for the FEMA FIRM of Frankfort.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Comparing the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map with the April 2025 Flood Event in Frankfort, KY using Satellite Imagery
This research compared the extent of the April 2025 flood event in Frankfort, KY to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of Frankfort produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The methods used included using imagery from before and after the flood from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 and 9 satellites to measure the increase in surface water and comparing this to the predicted increase in surface water by the FEMA FIRM. The results showed that the FEMA FIRM did not perfectly capture all of the areas that would be flooded. However, overall, the FEMA FIRM showed a greater flooding extent than what occurred in April of 2025 in Frankfort, which is adequate for its purpose. This research showed how remote sensing tools could be used for assessing flood risk and the accuracy of flood predictions. The results of this research can be taken into consideration for future updates for the FEMA FIRM of Frankfort.