Assessing quick wins to protect critical urban infrastructure from floods

Abstract

This paper focuses on the vulnerability and protection of critical urban infrastructure from flooding. It presents a pragmatic and rapid screening procedure, referred to as a 'Quick Scan methodology'. The purpose of the Quick Scan is to provide guidance for network operators and decision makers on identifying and rating those critical infrastructure networks and hot spot buildings that may be at risk from flooding, and assessing where intervention will be most feasible and cost beneficial - the so-called quick wins. This approach will support the development of effective interventions to alleviate direct and indirect flood impacts. Workshops and interviews with stakeholders and experts have been organised in pilot cities - Bangkok, Paris and Dordrecht - to test and further develop the Quick Scan and to obtain feedback and lessons learned for the protection of critical urban infrastructure. This paper presents the findings of the stakeholder workshops carried out in the city of Bangkok.