Assessing future urban flood hazard: A comprehensive approach to estimating the implications of future rainfall scenarios

Abstract

Estimating potential changes in future flood patterns based on anticipated changes in hydrological characteristics within the basin is crucial for mitigating flood damage and managing flood risk. In this study, nonparametric probability models are used to estimate future rainfall patterns in Seoul under the GCM‐based climate change scenarios (CCS), and the estimated future daily rainfall data was temporally downscaled to hourly units using the KNNR‐GA technique. Changes in flood hazard and runoff characteristics of the target area based on the estimated future rainfall data are quantitatively assessed. The results highlight that under CCS, flood runoff may increase further into the future, resulting in more significant changes in flood patterns and accelerating the increase in flood hazard. The delta change factor of flood risk indicators increased relatively significantly in more severe CCS. This study also proposed a process to estimate future flood runoff and mitigation effects according to CCS by reflecting various flood mitigation measures in the urban drainage system model. These findings can offer valuable insights for setting the direction of current and future mitigation measures.

Researching and managing flooding in the urban context

“…Whereas Darnkachatarn and Kajitani (2024) considered past land use and land cover change and its impact on flood risk, Moon et al (2024) offer an approach to assessing future urban flood hazards. This is particularly important with the rapidly dynamic changes within the urban environment.…”