A Geospatial Analysis of Pluvial Flood Risk and Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability in Katy, Texas

Abstract

This study utilizes the Topographic Position Index (TPI) to model pluvial flood susceptibility in Katy, Texas, under a Hurricane Harvey-level rainfall scenario. Using SRTM elevation data and OpenStreetMap infrastructure networks, distinct hydraulic sinks were identified and their intersection with primary roadways calculated. The analysis reveals that over 25% of the road network is vulnerable to inundation. Furthermore, a mitigation strategy targeting the top five high-impact sinks was simulated, demonstrating that localized detention interventions could significantly enhance network resilience.