Abstract
In recent decades, rapid urbanization has resulted in a growing urban population, transformed into regions of exceptional socio-economic value. By removing vegetation and soil, grading the land surface and saturating soil air content, urban developments are more likely to be flooded, which will be further exacerbated by an anticipated increase in the number of intense rainfall events, due to climate change. To date, data collected show that urban pluvial flood events are on the rise for both the UK and China. This paper presents a critical review of existing sustainable approaches to urban flood management, by comparing UK practice with that in China and critically assessing whether lessons can be learnt from the Sponge City initiative. The authors have identified a strategic research plan to ensure that the sponge city initiative can successfully respond to extreme climatic events and tackle pluvial flooding. Hence, this review suggests that future research should focus on (1) the development of a more localized rainfall model for the Chinese climate; (2) the role of retrofit SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) in challenging water environments; (3) the development of a robust SuDS selection tool, ensuring that the most effective devices are installed, based on local factors; and (4) dissemination of current information, and increased understanding of maintenance and whole life-costing, alongside monitoring the success of sponge cities to increase the confidence of decision makers (5) the community engagement and education about sponge cities.
Highlights
Flooding impacted approximately 78 million people globally in 2016 [1]
To 68% by 2050 [5], and the impact of climate change, a sustainable solution to flood management is essential for the socio-economic growth of nations
The purpose of this paper is to present a review of sustainable flood management in the UK and the move to create “sponge cities” in China, determining the lessons that can be learnt from both approaches
Summary
Flooding impacted approximately 78 million people globally in 2016 [1]. In China, between June and July an estimated 32 million people were affected by flooding [2], whilst flooding in the UK caused damage in excess of £1.6 billion over the winter of 2015–2016 [3]. In order to address these impacts, China has adopted a top-down policy whereby cities are directed to become “sponges” and manage 70% of incident rainfall using sustainable drainage techniques. They are funded to do so, but if they are not successful, funding is withdrawn. Due to an increasing flood risk, climate change, urbanization and the change in flooding patterns in the UK and China, a critical review of sustainable approaches to flood management is necessary to improve existing flood management practice and tools to deliver new solutions [17]. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of sustainable flood management in the UK and the move to create “sponge cities” in China, determining the lessons that can be learnt from both approaches
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