Due to changing climates and increased urbanization, Cities are subject to erratic rainfall, flooding, and other water-related shocks and strains. Cities are realizing they need tools to prioritize investments and actions for flood prevention and better understand the hazards associated with water.

In addition to causing devastation to infrastructure and buildings, flooding can hurt public health and cause financial losses. For instance, in tropical regions, standing water can transmit diseases conveyed by mosquitoes, and floodwater tainted with sewage can transmit infectious diseases. The following are the approaches to creating water-resilient or flood-prone cities.

Urban Planning and Policy measures

One of the approaches toward sustainable infrastructure is to ensure flood resilience in urban planning for floods and zoning regulations. This involves restricting high-density development in a flood-prone area by enforcing strict building codes that require floor-resistant construction materials and techniques.

China’s Sponge City is a ground-breaking illustration of flood control management inside an urban setting. To address issues with urban surface water flooding and water management, the design used “blue” and “green” zones to control stormwater. This approach aims to fortify natural ecosystems, produce visually pleasing spaces, and enhance urban habitats for birds and other species. The concept integrates eco-hydrology, the assessment of the impact of climate change, and long-term social and environmental well-being into urban land-use planning.

On top of that, the strategic land use; is planning urban expansion away from the flood-prone area. Additionally, mixed-use development is also an approach to look forward to. Nonetheless, community alerts based on technological communication between authorities and people can help in impending floods. ?

Technological Innovation and Integration

Smart cities improve urban resilience, especially flood resilience, by leveraging networked systems, data analytics, and cutting-edge technologies. These include modern technology like drones and satellite photography, machine learning models, blockchain for relief distribution, community participation and education, data-driven urban planning, smart infrastructure, real-time monitoring and early warning systems, integrated response systems, and more.

In places susceptible to flooding, sensor devices are used by real-time monitoring and early warning systems to track soil moisture, rainfall, and water levels. Using past data, meteorological trends, and current variables, data analytics and AI can forecast flood events. Early warning systems use social media, sirens, and cell phone alerts to notify authorities and locals of approaching floods.

Green infrastructure, intelligent drainage systems, and flood-resistant building designs are examples of smart and sustainable infrastructure. Evacuation planning, flood mapping, and risk assessment are all part of data-driven urban planning. Public awareness initiatives and community engagement platforms aid in educating the public about flood hazards and safety precautions. Flood monitoring systems are more accurate and timelier when data is crowdsourced.

Flood forecast accuracy and response tactics are enhanced by cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning models, drones and satellite photography, blockchain for relief distribution, and machine learning.

Retaining and Utilising Excessive Water

At the neighborhood level, several tactics can be used to lessen the impact of floods. Local parks, for instance, could benefit from better landscape designs incorporating water features, such as ponds, which serve as organic rain gardens during the monsoon season. Additionally, reservoirs and bioswales can be used to capture monsoon rainwater runoff to conserve this water. In addition to preventing flooding, such a designed network of water channels can assist conserve water for use in agriculture.

Water Drainage System Integration

When precipitation surpasses the anticipated patterns, a drainage system with insufficient design cannot accommodate the circumstances. Thus, the lack of effective stormwater drainage is the main cause of floods in cities. Water should be diverted through a planned network of stormwater drains that are made to accommodate local rainfall patterns to prevent systematic runoff.

Arup and Stockholm International Water Institute’s Flood Resilience Approach

However, today the world is focusing on flood-resilient planning and approaches as a result of climate change adaptation. Arup and Stockholm International Water Institute have developed an approach to understand the risk and manage the water system. They developed a five-step approach which starts with stakeholder engagement and understanding the basin with the current resilience.

• Understanding the System

This step involves assessing the city’s water cycle basins, understanding their scope and stakeholders, and connecting with those in charge of water cycle components. This is critical knowledge for understanding and mitigating flood risks because flows through the city are impacted by upstream basins.

• Assessing the Water Resilience

Action planning is guided by the CWRF (City Water Resilience Framework), which uses a set of indicators to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a city’s water management strategies. This procedure also includes selecting and appointing a resilience champion to supervise data collection. The individual selected to serve as the water resilience champion should have the requisite organizational skills, leadership abilities, and accountability to move the project forward in its early stages.

• Developing an Action Plan

Actionable initiatives and projects are created from the diagnostics and assessments carried out in earlier rounds. The city’s current initiatives, whether they are short, medium, or long-term plans, should be expanded upon in the action plan. Plans for crisis management, urban water strategies, sector planning, city master plans, etc., may include descriptions of these.

• Implementing the Action Plan

The city’s Water Resilience Action Plan will be carried out in this step by a core team. The Action Plan is dynamic and may be reviewed and modified over time, in contrast to a static road plan. The Action Plan’s monitoring and evaluation methodology will enable ongoing assessment and improvement of the plan as goals are met and projects are carried out.

• Evaluating, Adapting, and Learning

This step follows Step 4, where Step 4’s actions based on monitoring are carried out. As the CWRA develops and is co-developed with city partners, the tasks, resources, and processes for this step will change.

Sources

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264837717306130
• https://www.arup.com/perspectives/how-can-we-build-more-water-resilient-cities
• https://www.dezeen.com/2020/08/17/retrofitting-for-flood-resilience-edward-barsley/
• https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/rebuilding-our-cities-in-a-world-facing-flooding
• https://www.cpkukreja.com/blogs/how-can-we-shape-flood-resilient-cities.html