Multi-Scale Resilience Assessment and Zonal Strategies for Storm Surge Adaptation in China’s Coastal Cities

Shibai Cui, Li Zhu (), Jiaxiang Wang and Steivan Defilla
Additional contact information
Shibai Cui: Department of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Li Zhu: Department of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Jiaxiang Wang: Department of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Steivan Defilla: Department of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-37

Abstract: Storm surges are the leading marine disaster in China’s coastal cities, with their impacts exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization. Despite their significance, most existing studies focus on a single scale, neglecting the complex, multi-scale nature of urban resilience and the interrelated governance strategies needed to address storm surge risks. This study introduces a dual-scale resilience indicator system—macro (prefecture-level cities) and micro (coastal buffer grids)—within the “exposure–sensitivity–adaptation” framework, utilizing multi-source data for a comprehensive assessment. This research also explores the impact mechanisms of storm surges on urban areas and proposes zonal governance strategies. Findings indicate that resilience varies spatially in Chinese coastal cities, with a pattern of “high resilience in the north, low resilience in the south, and a mix in the center.” At the macro scale, key limitations include policy implementation, infrastructure capacity, and social vulnerability. At the micro scale, factors such as inadequate green space, increased impervious surfaces, limited shelter access, and low utility network density lead to the emergence of “low-resilience units” in ecologically sensitive and mixed coastal zones. The study further reveals the synergies between resilience drivers across scales, emphasizing the need for integrated cross-scale governance. This research advances resilience theory by expanding spatial scales and refining indicator systems, while proposing a zonal governance framework tailored to resilience gradation. It offers a quantitative basis and practical strategies for fostering “safe cities” and advancing “adaptive spatial planning” in the context of sustainable development.

Keywords: urban resilience; coastal adaptation; storm surge risk; spatial analysis; resilience strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/11/2178/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/11/2178/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:11:p:2178-:d:1785531

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().