Water Harvesting Research

Water Harvesting Research

Integrated Urban Fluvial Flood Risk Assessment: A Source–Pathway–Receptor–Consequence (SPRC) Application in Qazvin, Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Physical Geography Department, University of Tehran, P.O. Box: 14155-6465, Tehran, Iran.
3 Senior Engineering, Regional Water Company of Qazvin, Qazvin, Iran.
Abstract
Flood risk assessment in developing regions is often constrained by the absence of locally derived depth–damage functions, limiting the reliability of loss estimation and risk-informed planning. This study proposes an integrated methodology that combines the Source–Pathway–Receptor–Consequence (SPRC) framework with socio-economic indicators to assess fluvial flood risk in the Shotorak catchment, Qazvin Province, Iran. In the absence of local damage data, European Commission depth–damage curves were applied to hydraulic simulation outputs for 25- and 100-year return period flood events. The modelling results indicate maximum flood depths of 5.85 m and 11.02 m, with inundation extents of 29.79 ha and 45.67 ha, respectively. Residential land in Mohammadieh was affected over 3.4 ha under the 25-year scenario and 5.9 ha under the 100-year scenario, while agricultural land in Sharifieh experienced the greatest losses, increasing from 12.5 ha to 17.4 ha. Residential risk increased by 52% between the two scenarios, underscoring the exposure of expanding urban settlements. The findings reveal pronounced spatial variability in flood impact, driven by the interplay of topography, land use, and socio-economic conditions. Overall, the proposed framework offers a transferable and practical interim tool for flood risk screening and risk-sensitive planning in regions where local depth–damage functions are unavailable.
Keywords
Subjects

Ajtai, I., Ștefănie, H., Maloș, C., Botezan, C., Radovici, A., Bizău-Cârstea, M., & Baciu, C. (2023). Mapping social vulnerability to floods. A comprehensive framework using a vulnerability index approach and PCA analysis. Ecological Indicators, 154, 110838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110838   
Ali, A., Ullah, W., Khan, U. A., Ullah, S., Ali, A., Jan, M. A., ... & Jan, Q. (2024). Assessment of multi-components and sectoral vulnerability to urban floods in Peshawar–Pakistan. Natural Hazards Research, 4(3), 507-519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2023.12.012  
Aronica, G. T., Biondi, G., Brigandì, G., Cascone, E., Lanza, S., & Randazzo, G. (2012). Assessment and mapping of debris-flow risk in a small catchment in eastern Sicily through integrated numerical simulations and GIS. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 49, 52-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2012.04.002
Auliagisni, W., Wilkinson, S., & Elkharboutly, M. (2022). Learning from floods—how a community develops future resilience. Water, 14(20), 3238.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2012.04.002
Bakewell, I., & Luff I. (2008). North London strategic flood risk assessment – Final Report, DEFRA, UK. https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-12/ke79-north-london-strategic-flood-risk-assessment.pdf
Ballesteros, C., Jiménez, J. A., & Viavattene, C. (2018). A multi-component flood risk assessment in the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean). Natural Hazards, 90(1), 265-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3042-9  
Behzadi, F., Javadi, S., Hafezi, S., Vasheghani Farahani, E., & Golmohammadi, G. (2024). Flood risk projection in Iran using CMIP6 models and frequency analysis of precipitation. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 38(12), 4843-4861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-024-02835-8
Bhere, S., & Reddy, M. J. (2022). Multivariate Flood Risk Assessment of the Unplanned Semi- Urban Region by Incorporating Flood Hazard, Vulnerability, and Exposure.  https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1286315/v1
Bolourchi, M. H. (1978). A geological study of the Avaj region (Report No. 6). Geological Survey of Iran. (in Persian)
Bonasia, R., Ceragene, M., Cea, L., & Cuevas Cancino, M. D. L. O. (2024). Crafting Flood Risk Maps and Intensifying Social Vulnerability Studies for Heightened Awareness and Damage Mitigation: Villahermosa, Mexico case. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2024 (EGU24), 3891. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3891  
Cançado, V., Brasil, L., Nascimento, N., & Guerra, A. (2008, August). Flood risk assessment in an urban area: Measuring hazard and vulnerability. In 11th International conference on urban drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (pp. 1-10). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nilo-Nascimento/publication/228507992_Flood_risk_assessment_in_an_urban_area_Measuring_hazard_and_vulnerability/links/0f31753506b5bb838f000000/Flood-risk-assessment-in-an-urban-area-Measuring-hazard-and-vulnerability.pdf
Dawo, L. (2022). Flood risk assessment in climate change scenarios in the Algarve region (Master's thesis, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)). https://www.proquest.com/openview/d5fdcc6229d4a9ecf1e79a3d4b24ba22/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2026366&diss=y
Englhardt, J., De Moel, H., Huyck, C. K., De Ruiter, M. C., Aerts, J. C., & Ward, P. J. (2019). Enhancement of large-scale flood risk assessments using building-material-based vulnerability curves for an object-based approach in urban and rural areas. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 19(8), 1703-1722. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-1703-2019
Gary B. (2020) Hydraulic Reference Manual, version 5.0. In HEC-RAS River Analysis System; USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center: Davis, CA, USA, 2016; Available online: https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/documentation.aspx
Hamers, E. M., Maier, H. R., Zecchin, A. C., & van Delden, H. (2024). Framework for considering the interactions between climate change, socio-economic development and land use planning in the assessment of future flood risk. Environmental Modelling & Software, 171, 105886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2023.105886
Huizinga, J., DE, M., & Szewczyk, W. (2017). Global flood depth-damage functions: Methodology and the database with guidelines. EUR 28552 EN. https://doi.org/10.2760/16510 
Khojeh, S., Ataie-Ashtiani, B., & Hosseini, S. M. (2022). Effect of DEM resolution in flood modeling: a case study of Gorganrood River, Northeastern Iran. Natural Hazards, 112(3), 2673-2693. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05283-1
Kron, W. (2005). Flood risk= hazard• values• vulnerability, water international. Water Int, 30, 58-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060508691837   
Krvavica, N., Šiljeg, A., Horvat, B., & Panđa, L. (2023). Pluvial flash flood hazard and risk mapping in Croatia: Case study in the Gospić catchment. Sustainability, 15(2), 1197. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021197  
Lamichhane, N., & Sharma, S. (2018). Effect of input data in hydraulic modeling for flood warning systems. Hydrological sciences journal, 63(6), 938-956. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2018.1464166
Liu, B., Yang, J., Sha, J., Luo, Y., Zhao, X., & Liu, R. (2023). Analysis of runoff according to land-use change in the upper Hutuo River basin. Water, 15(6), 1138. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061138
Lockwood, T., Freer, J., Michaelides, K., Brazier, R. E., & Coxon, G. (2022). Assessing the efficacy of offline water storage ponds for natural flood management. Hydrological Processes, 36(6), e14618. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14618 
Morelli, A., Taramelli, A., Bozzeda, F., Valentini, E., Colangelo, M. A., & Cueto, Y. R. (2021). The disaster resilience assessment of coastal areas: A method for improving the stakeholders’ participation. Ocean & Coastal Management, 214, 105867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105867
Morgado, Y., Areu-Rangel, O. S., Silva, R., Miyashita, T., Mori, N., & Tomiczek, T. (2023). Using the SPRC methodology to assess tsunami risk in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Coastal Engineering Journal, 65(2), 256-276. https://doi.org/10.1080/21664250.2023.2172992
Mosaffaie, J., Akhzari, D., Rashvand, S., & Ataei, J. (2015). Regional flood frequency analysis using multiple regression method (Case study: hydrometric stations of Qazvin province). Journal of Range and Watershed Managment, 68(4), 821-833. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2015.56964
Nicholls, R., Zanuttigh, B., Vanderlinden, J. P., Weisse, R., Silva, R., Hanson, S., ... & Koundouri, P. (2015). Developing a holistic approach to assessing and managing coastal flood risk. In Coastal risk management in a changing climate (pp. 9-53). Butterworth-Heinemann.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-397310-8.00002-6
Notaro, V., De Marchis, M., Fontanazza, C. M., La Loggia, G., Puleo, V., & Freni, G. (2014). The effect of damage functions on urban flood damage appraisal. Procedia Engineering, 70, 1251-1260.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.02.138
Perini, L., Calabrese, L., Salerno, G., Ciavola, P., & Armaroli, C. (2016). Evaluation of coastal vulnerability to flooding: comparison of two different methodologies adopted by the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy). Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 16(1), 181-194.‏ https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-181-2016
Phillips, J. V., & Tadayon, S. (2006). Selection of Manning's roughness coefficient for natural and constructed vegetated and non-vegetated channels, and vegetation maintenance plan guidelines for vegetated channels in central Arizona. US Geological Survey.‏ https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20065108
Ros, F. C., Tajuddin, N. F. A., Tarmizi, Z. I. A., Rambat, S., Along, N. Z., & Harun, A. N. (2024). Flood vulnerability index based on indicator approach in assessing flood risk in Selangor, Malaysia. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 16(4), 16-22.‏ https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2024.16.04.003
Secretary-General, U. N. (2016). Report of the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology relating to disaster risk reduction. Proceedings of the Seventy-First Session Agenda Item, 19.‏ https://www.undrr.org/publication/report-open-ended-intergovernmental-expert-working-group-indicators-and-terminology
Taramelli, A., Righini, M., Valentini, E., Alfieri, L., Gatti, I., & Gabellani, S. (2022). Building-scale flood loss estimation through enhanced vulnerability pattern characterization: Application to an urban flood in Milano, Italy. EGUsphere, 2022, 1-35.‏ https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-225
Ziya, O., & Safaie, A. (2023). Probabilistic modeling framework for flood risk assessment: A case study of Poldokhtar city. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 47, 101393.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101393