Climate change impacts on infrastructure: Flood risk perceptions and evaluations of water systems in coastal urban areas

Abstract

The importance of public perceptions and their role in climate change adaptation for infrastructure has been highlighted in previous studies. However, public perception of water infrastructure at risk of flooding has not been explicitly addressed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate flood risk perception, the factors that influence it, and evaluations of water infrastructure systems. To examine this, data were obtained from a public survey of 755 respondents in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Risk perception is measured as three components: worry, awareness, and preparedness. Structural equation modeling was used to develop and test a model tracing the interrelationships between risk perception, disaster experience, satisfaction with infrastructure services, knowledge of water infrastructure, socioeconomic characteristics, and political views. Results show that flood risk perception elements (awareness, worry, preparedness) significantly influence public evaluation of water infrastructure conditions and mediate the impact of flood experience, service satisfaction, and knowledge. Evaluation of water infrastructure is positively associated with knowledge and service satisfaction but negatively with flood experience. The study also confirms the importance of socio-economic characteristics in shaping public risk perception and evaluation of infrastructure. These findings imply multiple ways that decision-makers may enhance flood risk management plans and adaptation processes of water infrastructure systems in coastal urban areas.