AddisuDGIS/Addisu_GIS

Fire Risk Index Mapping for Ethiopia Using Multi-Factor Analysis and Geospatial Methods in Google Earth Engine ### Title: Fire Risk Index Mapping for Ethiopia Using Multi-Factor Analysis and Geospatial Methods in Google Earth Engine #### Author: Addisu Damtew (PhD) --- ### Abstract This document provides a step-by-step explanation and analysis of the development of a Fire Risk Index (FRI) for Ethiopia using Google Earth Engine (GEE). Each line of code is meticulously explained, detailing its functionality, purpose, and relevance to the broader goal of fire risk assessment. The methodology integrates multiple geospatial datasets, including terrain, land cover, soil moisture, vegetation indices, and historical fire activity. The resulting fire risk map, visualized with legends, scale bars, and other marginal elements, offers a reproducible framework for fire risk analysis. --- ### Introduction The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires demand robust tools to assess and manage fire risks effectively. This project leverages Google Earth Engine's powerful computational capabilities to integrate diverse datasets into a unified Fire Risk Index (FRI) for Ethiopia. The methodology combines physical, climatic, and historical factors to quantify and visualize fire risk spatially. --- ### Code Explanation #### 1. Define the Study Area ```javascript var ethiopia = ee.FeatureCollection('USDOS/LSIB_SIMPLE/2017') .filter(ee.Filter.eq('country_na', 'Ethiopia')) .geometry(); ``` **Explanation:** - **Purpose:** Define Ethiopia as the study area using the `USDOS/LSIB_SIMPLE/2017` dataset. - **Why:** The `USDOS/LSIB_SIMPLE/2017` dataset was chosen because it provides a reliable, globally recognized boundary dataset maintained by the U.S. Department of State. Precise geographic boundaries are critical in environmental modeling to ensure spatial accuracy and avoid inclusion of extraneous data outside the intended region of analysis. - **Impact on Computational Accuracy:** Defining precise boundaries reduces computational burden by focusing analysis on the target area. This approa …