Building a Resilient City through Sustainable Flood Risk Management: The Flood-Prone Area of Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Thailand

Phichet Munpa, Atima Dubsok, Athit Phetrak, Wandee Sirichokchatchawan, Nutta Taneepanichskul, Jenyuk Lohwacharin, Suthirat Kittipongvises () and Chongrak Polprasert
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Phichet Munpa: Environment Development and Sustainability (EDS) Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Atima Dubsok: Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Athit Phetrak: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Wandee Sirichokchatchawan: College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University (CPHS), Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Nutta Taneepanichskul: College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University (CPHS), Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Jenyuk Lohwacharin: Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Suthirat Kittipongvises: Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Chongrak Polprasert: Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Resilience has gained significant prominence in the management of climate-related shocks and the minimization of disaster risks. Assessing flood resilience is, therefore, crucial in identifying areas lacking support and opportunities for development. Comprehensive risk assessments are urgently required, especially in areas prone to floods. By applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), stakeholder meetings, and keyword analysis, this study aims to assess the flood resilience of Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Province (PNSAP) in Thailand, an area at high risk of flooding and home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Arup and Rockefeller Foundation’s City Resilience indicators, the key elements for building resilience in PNSAP include effective emergency response services, comprehensive hazard monitoring and risk assessment, and emergency medical care. In addition, the focus group discussions and keyword analysis identified the following critical components for strengthening flood resilience: “financial aspects”, “community awareness and preparedness”, “multi-stakeholder collaboration”, “citizen engagement”, and “urban flood monitoring and data management.” Moreover, to gain insight into the perceptions of people in local communities, the results of a household survey (n = 552) indicated that approximately one-third of the respondents had never engaged in flood preparedness activities. Neither the gender nor the education level of the respondents significantly influenced their engagement in flood preparedness. The respondents also perceived that infrastructure flexibility, affordable transport networks, flood monitoring and data management, the adequate provision of critical services, and reliable communication systems in building resilience were important during a flood disaster. These results provide valuable insight into the community’s perception of the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction mechanisms for building flood resilience in PNSAP and can serve as a useful guide for future resilience-building initiatives. By addressing these factors, PNSAP could enhance its resilience to the impacts of flooding and contribute to the global field of flood management and resilience building.

Keywords: flood resilience assessment; disaster risk reduction; flood management; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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