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Home > GCR > Vol. 37 > Iss. 1 (2026)

 

Alternate Title

Improving Flood Risk Mapping by Incorporating Local-scale Calibration Data Derived from Stakeholder Input

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Globally, flooding is the most frequent and costly natural hazards, disproportionately affecting populations based on environmental, social, and economic factors. Understanding the spatial variability of flood risk as well as the respective flood drivers is essential for informing cost-effective mitigation strategies and enhancing community resilience. Here we mapped flood risk that combines flood hazards and vulnerability in an under-resourced coastal community prone to compound flooding. Our approach integrates stakeholder engagement with GIS-based analysis using open-access datasets.

We first developed an initial flood hazard map using an equal-weight combination of factors commonly associated with flood occurrence/prevention, including upslope area, impervious surface coverage, canopy coverage, 20-year average rainfall, soil runoff potential, and distance to water bodies (a location’s proximity to water bodies). Local stakeholders and city officials were then consulted to provide insight into their past flood experience. Their input was used to calibrate the GIS model by adjusting the relative weights of the six contributing factors, resulting in a flood hazard map that best aligned with local experience. This locally calibrated flood hazard map was then combined with three flood vulnerability indicators, derived from a social vulnerability index, distance to parks, and proximity to critical infrastructure in GIS to provide a high-resolution map of total flood risk throughout the City.

The resulting map showed substantial spatial overlap between flood hazards and flood vulnerability, indicating that the most vulnerable populations reside in areas most prone to repetitive flooding. Impervious surface coverage, tree canopy coverage, and precipitation emerged as the most influential factors in determining flood hazards. This study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement and suggests that measures that reduce impervious surface coverage and increase tree canopy coverage, i.e. nature-based solutions, can effectively mitigate flood hazards in coastal communities.

First Page

37

Last Page

47

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Statement

Artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the preparation of this manuscript, and a disclosure statement is included in the Acknowledgments and the cover letter.

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