Integrating Flooding Vulnerability Analysis into Water-Sensitive Spatial Planning of Airports

Abstract

Resilience and vulnerability are inversely related terms and most often, one of the ways to achieve resilience is to deal with vulnerabilities of the several components of the system (UN, 2010). Incorporating resilience to disasters into infrastructure or reducing the inherent vulnerabilities, happens either by design or by intervention at a later stage, as shown in many studies. This process of incorporation cannot be a standalone process, and needs to follow an integrated approach to ensure better functioning of systems. The integration of vulnerability reduction and sustainability on an urban scale has been a point of focus for multiple research studies in the last decade. Tackling vulnerabilities to flooding has become very important in all types of infrastructure (Chelleri, 2015), especially since the impact of climate change has been on the rise in most urban areas.
This study, in the initial sections, establishes the need to carry out a vulnerability assessment for flooding in airports that are in use and those that are being designed as greenfield airports. Various literature sources including codes, standards, disaster management guidelines, and risk assessment frameworks have been referred to within this research work to understand the basis of airport design, control of flooding and method of approach for vulnerability mapping and measurement as part of overall resilience planning.
The examples of airports that go through flooding frequently, in India and abroad have been studied as part of the section on Case Studies to understand the impact and the mitigation measures along with strengthening measures, disaster preparedness and cost of interventions. Analysis of the airports has been attempted through available details in the public documents, surveys and interviews with experts. The types of damages and impacts for the sake of identifying vulnerability, have been identified from literature and personnel in the aviation fraternity.
As part of the subsequent sections, vulnerability indicator data of airport infrastructure has been collected and variables to be used in the development of the analysis model have be finalised. The analysis is based on a regression model, and the checklist to be used for application has been detailed out based on the required inputs for the model from the stakeholder. An example of application of the model has been included, with the considered assumptions. The benefits, shortcomings and possible future scope for the study have been identified as part of the conclusion of the study.