Hobeica, L and Hobeica, A (2019) How adapted are built-environment professionals to flood adaptation? International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 10(4), pp. 248-259. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how architectural practices have been considering flood-risk adaptation within regular design activities. It relies on the assumptions that floods are hybrid phenomena that require actions in both the anthropic and hydrological domains to be successfully managed, and that floods' spatial dimension can be subject to design to minimize the impacts of disasters. Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on the conclusions of a research focussing on the design of flood-prone urban projects in Europe, within which 22 built-environment professionals (BEPs) were interviewed. The statements of these informants were examined through content analysis, as a means to reveal barriers and incentives that affect their perception and practice of dealing with floods through design. Findings: Having different experiences with flood-related projects, the interviewees showed uneven degrees of sensitivity to manage floods through design. The analyses pinpoint that for BEPs to be up to the challenges associated with these projects, besides technical expertise, some soft skills are needed such as professional openness and a positive mindset. Originality/value: This paper explores flood adaptation not only as a spatial challenge but also as a cultural change that needs to be embraced within flood risk management efforts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural practices; built-environment professionals; design with floods; disaster risk reduction; flood adaptation; flood-risk culture; mindset adaptation; professional competencies; urban regeneration |
| Index terms: | content analysis, mindset, flood risk management, cultural change, urban regeneration, disaster risk reduction, risk culture, methodology, adaptation, Europe, dimension, architectural practice |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, health monitoring assessment and metrics, health behaviours and lifestyles, user focus, business, environmental hazards, sociology, financial risk, physical geography and landforms, post-disaster and reconstruction, research methods |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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