Abstract
Satellite images provide unparalleled techniques to monitor changes after a natural disaster such as tropical cyclone. In this study, medium to high-resolution satellite images consisting of Landsat Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Ikonos were used to map the areas most severely affected by the cyclone Gonu which affected the eastern parts of the Sultanate of Oman on June 4, 2007. The images were rectified to the UTM zone 40 and WGS84 to facilitate their comparisons and to map changes between images recorded at different times. Selective principal component analysis was used to map changes that had occurred between the images recorded before and immediately after cyclone Gonu. The images mapped the extent of flooding and damage to roads and infrastructure in selected area in Muscat. Information extracted from the medium and high-resolution satellite images are invaluable and could help managers and city planners to make critical decisions such as the extent of wadi flooding and the type of buildings and infrastructures suitable for areas prone to flooding.