A comparative analysis of urban flood management strategy in the united kingdom and china

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has brought about significant changes to the structure of urban areas, impacting the natural flow of water, and worsening the issue of waterlogging. In 2015, China introduced the concept of "Sponge Cities" as a critical step towards transitioning from conventional drainage systems to a sustainable approach for urban flood management. Countries such as the UK, which are confronted with similar flooding challenges, have an opportunity to draw insights and inspiration from China's experience in addressing these issues. This research seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the flood management strategy in the UK by applying lessons from China's experience to the UK context. The research included a comparative analysis of the policies and strategies behind the Chinese Sponge City initiative and the current UK flood management approach to understand the differences and aspects in need of development. Wuhan was examined as a case study to demonstrate the local application of the sponge city guidelines and to demonstrate how these guidelines need for flexibility of interpretation arises from the variability of environmental conditions within the city. The study underscores the importance of collaboration among government, urban planners, and stakeholders in effectively promoting Sustainable Drainage Systems in the UK. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for customized flood management strategy aligned with local characteristics of the urban environment