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Sustainability 2012, 4(7), 1397-1411; doi:10.3390/su4071397

Concept Paper

From Confining to Sharing for Sustainable Flood Management

Guangwei Huang

Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University, 7-1 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan

Received: 13 April 2012; in revised form: 29 May 2012 / Accepted: 18 June 2012 / Published: 26 June 2012

Download PDF Full-Text [1315 KB, uploaded 26 June 2012 13:47 CEST]

Abstract: It is widely accepted that sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. However, the question of how to apply this principle to flood management remains insufficiently answered. This article outlines a new strategic concept termed as “Flood Sharing” as a means toward sustainable flood management. Contrary to the traditional concept of flood confinement or blocking, the new concept advocates the need to alleviate flood damage by reducing inundation depth via expanding flood inundation areas. It differs from other contemporary thinking such as “make space for water” and “room for the river” in its emphasis on using the urban fabric. Evidence from a case study was presented to support this new concept, and model/data analyses have been conducted to show that it could be realized through the wise use of infrastructure.

Keywords: flood confining; flood sharing; inundation area; multi-purpose roads

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