Sustainable integrated urban flood management strategies for planning of smart cities: a review

Accelerated urbanization, changes in climate and rapid increase in urban population have several impacts on the urban hydrological cycle. Severe water stress and urban flooding are evident in urban cities and hence, smart cities, which are water-sensitive are the need of the hour. Extreme climate events and frequent urban flash floods, effect the performance and development of smart cities. Sustainable integrated urban flood management strategies are considered to be crucial in planning and development of smart cities. High rainfall intensity-short duration flash floods occur frequently in high-density-core urban areas causing disruption of social life, economic activities and infrastructural damages. Urban floods have become disastrous, due to random and unplanned urbanization, inefficient drainage systems and lack of real-time monitoring technologies. Urban floods are also accompanied with huge flood runoff which can be routed, stored and used for other smart city applications. This study highlights the various sustainable integrated urban flood management strategies and technologies in development of water-smart city. Framework for managing urban floods and planning of smart cities using smart source control systems, digital automations, remote-sensing applications and real-time technologies are reviewed. As a part of case study, current urban flood management strategies in Indian smart cities are discussed.