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Climate change and rapid urbanization have intensified the frequency and severity of flooding, resulting in substantial damage to communities and infrastructure. Existing research on flood risk addresses a wide range of dimensions, ranging from physical to managerial aspects, which adds complexity to the assessment process. This paper introduces the Integrated Risk Linkages (IRL) Framework to provide a systematic approach to flood risk assessment. The IRL Framework defines risk as the intersection of hazard and vulnerability, where vulnerability is shaped by exposure and susceptibility. Resilience, including coping and adaptive capacities, serves as a counterbalance to vulnerability, offering pathways to mitigate flood impacts. Guided by the IRL framework, this study conducts a comprehensive review of the literature to identify and organize a detailed set of 99 criteria and sub-criteria into three overarching hierarchical structures: hazard, susceptibility, and resilience. Furthermore, the paper evaluates existing flood risk assessment methods, emphasizing their characteristics and practical applicability. The IRL framework presented in this study offers essential insights for navigating the complexities of flood risk management, serving as a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Its flexibility empowers users to adapt the framework by utilizing specific components or its entire hierarchical structure, depending on data availability and research objectives, thereby enhancing its applicability across diverse contexts.
Article Highlights
This study develops the Integrated Risk Linkages (IRL) framework which provides a systematic approach to flood risk assessment.
A comprehensive review of existing literature is conducted, organizing 99 criteria/sub-criteria into three hierarchical structures for hazard, susceptibility, and resilience.
The paper addresses challenges in data quality and integration by promoting flexibility and adaptability in applying the IRL framework along with the proposed hierarchical structures across diverse contexts.