Abstract
Flood defense strategies have evolved from hard-engineered systems to nature-based solutions that advocate for sustainability to meet today’s environmental, social, and economic goals. This paper aims to analyze the historical progression and evolutionary trends in flood control strategies that have led to nature-based solutions. An evaluative literature review was conducted to narrate the evolution of nature-based flood management approaches for different flood types, river floods, coastal floods, and stormwater run-offs. The analysis reflected three evolutionary trends: the transformation of hard measures to soft measures; secondly, the increase in society’s attention to ecosystems and their services; and, finally, divergence from single-function solutions to multi-function solutions. However, continuous monitoring and evaluation of the previous projects and adapting to the lessons learned are the key to progress towards sustainable flood management strategies and their societal acceptance.
Highlights
Throughout human history, the availability of water resources has been essential to humans’ well-being and survival [1]
Existing research and practical cases were the major materials of the study
Literature of the topics related to historical developments of flood management, information about different types of nature-based solutions’ (NBS), and studies on flood risks and infrastructure for defenses were collected and analyzed for trends in flood management strategies which could have led to the evolution of NBS
Summary
Throughout human history, the availability of water resources has been essential to humans’ well-being and survival [1]. The convenience of accessing water has been a critical determinant of human settlements near water bodies. These settlements near the water bodies have faced severe risks, such as floods, which could become more threatening under future climatic and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Traditional engineering solutions, commonly called ‘grey infrastructures’, are considered practical measures and have been used as defenses against different types of floods. Hard-engineered systems, such as seawalls, dikes, levees, pumping facilities, floodways, etc., and stormwater management strategies, such as gutters, storm sewers, tunnels, culverts, detention basins, etc., are some of the grey infrastructures that have been used for preventing coastal and river floods. A.H.; Trowsdale, S.A. A Review of Models for Low Impact Urban Stormwater Drainage.
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