https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/22185 2026-05-12T06:34:00Z 2026-05-12T06:34:00Z Kountouri, Josefina Panagiotou, Constantinos F. Tsouni, Alexia Sigourou, Stavroula Pagana, Vasiliki Kontoes, Charalampos Danezis, Chris Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/36392 2026-05-04T06:51:49Z 2025-10-17T00:00:00Z

Title: A Multidimensional Framework for Flood Risk Analysis in the Garyllis Catchment, Cyprus Authors: Kountouri, Josefina; Panagiotou, Constantinos F.; Tsouni, Alexia; Sigourou, Stavroula; Pagana, Vasiliki; Kontoes, Charalampos; Danezis, Chris; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. Abstract: Flooding events have increased in frequency and severity worldwide in recent years, a trend that has been made worse by human activity and climate change. Floods are one of the world’s most dangerous natural catastrophes because of the serious risks they represent to property, human life, and cultural heritage. The necessity for efficient flood management techniques to reduce the growing dangers is what motivated this study. It specifically examines the flood risk in the Garyllis River Basin in Cyprus, a region recognized for it high susceptibility to extreme weather conditions Adopting an integrates approach that combines modeling tools and techniques, such as remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hydraulic modeling, along with multiple data types of data and in situ measures, this study evaluates flood risk and proposed shelters and escapes routes for the worst-case scenarios. The research utilizes the open-access software HEC-RAS to simulate the spatio-temporal progression of surface water depth and water velocity for different return periods. The vulnerability levels are enumerated through a weighted linear combination of relevant factors, in specific population density and age distribution, according to the last official government reports. Exposure levels were calculated in terms of land value. For each flood component, all factors are assigned equal weighting coefficients. Subsequently, flood risk levels are assessed for each location as the product of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure levels. The validity of the proposed methodology is assessed by comparing the critical points identified during in situ visits with the flood risk level estimates. As a result, escape routes and refuge areas were proposed for the worst-case scenario.

2025-10-17T00:00:00Z Doukanari, Marina Tzouvaras, Marios Fotiou, Kyriaki Stylianou, Neophytos Mettas, Christodoulos Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/36389 2026-05-04T06:19:07Z 2025-09-19T00:00:00Z

Title: A GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis framework for landslide risk assessment: a case study in Amathounta, Limassol, Cyprus Authors: Doukanari, Marina; Tzouvaras, Marios; Fotiou, Kyriaki; Stylianou, Neophytos; Mettas, Christodoulos; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. Abstract: Landslides pose significant risks to both infrastructure and environmental systems, making efficient risk assessment and management strategies essential. This research combines Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess landslide susceptibility in the Amathounta region of Limassol Cyprus. Nine key factors influencing slope stability were selected, including slope, aspect, relief, precipitation, land use, proximity to roads, lithology, faults, and streams—sourced from both national agencies and open datasets. A 5-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) supported the extraction of terrain-related parameters, while geological and meteorological data were obtained from official sources. Remote sensing and spatial analysis techniques were used to prepare the input layers, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to weight each criterion based on expert judgment and regional studies. These weighted layers were integrated using a structured overlay approach in ArcGIS Pro to generate a detailed landslide susceptibility map. The final output categorizes the study area into five hazard levels, from very low to very high risk. Validation using a local landslide inventory showed strong spatial agreement with the high-risk zones, confirming the robustness of the approach. The research provides important findings for Amathounta land-use planning and hazard mitigation and establishes a transferable method for other areas in Cyprus. The upcoming research will concentrate on expanding the model across the national territory and adding soil characteristics together with socio-economic data and real-time monitoring systems to boost predictive accuracy.

2025-09-19T00:00:00Z Georgiou, Spyroula Panagiotou, Constantinos F. Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/36388 2026-05-04T06:16:08Z 2025-09-19T00:00:00Z

Title: Drought monitoring in Cyprus via the integration of hydrological, meteorological, and satellite data Authors: Georgiou, Spyroula; Panagiotou, Constantinos F.; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. Abstract: The prolonged drought in Cyprus has several impacted agricultural productivity, leading to water shortages an increased economic stress on local communities. The study investigates the underlying drivers of drought using hydrological, meteorological, and satellite data derived from field measurements and online database. Primary drought indicators, particularly precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, dam water storage, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were analyzed from 2000 to 2024 according to seasonal and annual time periods. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to identify linear relationships among the drought indicators, whereas long-term mean averages and anomalies(deviationsfromthe long-termmeans)were estimated to identify temporal patterns and trends.Annual analyses revealed the presence of significant positive correlations between air temperature and NDVI, as well as between temperature and evapotranspiration, whereas all factorsshowed increasing temporal trendsin recent years—indicating an increase in atmospheric moisture demand and vegetation activity.Conversely, a negative correlation is observed between airtemperature and damwaterstorage,highlightingthe stress on water availabilityat a nationalsca le.Amoderate positive correlation is observed between precipitation and water storage, including temporal delays due to infiltration and surface runoff.Seasonal analysesreveal a distinctreduction of precipitation rates,especially during thewet period,combined with increasing air temperatures. Temporal anomalies are identified across multiple variables, indicating the presence of extreme drought periods,such as 2008, where precipitation rates were significantly below the long-term mean values, and 2019,which exhibited anomaliesincreasein precipitation.The findings ofthisstudyhighlighttheimportanceof combining remote sensing and ground truth data to improve drought monitoring and water management in semi-arid regions

2025-09-19T00:00:00Z Dimitriou, Christodoulos Themistocleous, Kyriacos Abate, Dante Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/36385 2026-04-28T10:23:25Z 2025-09-19T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessing thermal stress on cultural heritage in Limassol: a multi-scale remote sensing approach using Sentinel-3 and Landsat 9 land surface temperature data Authors: Dimitriou, Christodoulos; Themistocleous, Kyriacos; Abate, Dante; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G. Abstract: Cultural heritage buildings and archaeological sites in urban environments are increasingly at risk from exposure to thermal stress driven by climate change. This study examines the impact of thermal stress on heritage structures in Limassol’s historic district using Land Surface Temperature (LST) images from Sentinel-3 and Landsat-9 satellite remote sensing data. Sentinel-3’s broader coverage at a 1km spatial resolution allows for a city-wide survey of thermal anomalies, enabling the identification of extensive urban hotspots. Landsat 9’s 30m resolution provides detailed thermal distributions that highlight localized thermal gradients around individual heritage sites, archaeological areas and listed neoclassical buildings, which are more sensitive to small-scale environmental changes. By correlating data from both satellites, this research constructs thermal risk maps, revealing the interplay between large-scale urban heat trends and site-specific vulnerabilities. The results demonstrate that areas with high concentrations of cultural heritage assets that consistently show elevated thermal stress levels face increased risks of material degradation, weathering and accelerated decay in historic structures. These findings underscore the importance of microclimate interventions to urban planning and landscaping to mitigate heat buildup. This multi-scale remote sensing approach offers a replicable framework for other Mediterranean cities facing similar climatic pressures. Integrating broader-scale monitoring with Sentinel-3 with site-focused assessments from Landsat 9 provides a robust tool for heritage preservation policies, restoration efforts, and climate-resilient urban development. Ultimately, the study highlights how the use of satellite LST data can serve as a critical resource for safeguarding historical sites against the impacts of climate change and urban heat island effect

2025-09-19T00:00:00Z