Work

Analysis of urban flooding in Chicago based on crowdsourced data: drivers and the need for community-based mitigation strategies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines 311 service requests for basement and street flooding in Chicago, focusing on the neighborhoods of Humboldt Park and Chatham. While precipitation is the primary driver citywide, neighborhood-specific factors significantly influence reporting behaviors. In Humboldt Park, flooding service request is driven largely by precipitation, with infrastructure and building conditions contributing to moderate flooding. In Chatham, socioeconomic factors such as homeownership rates and ethnicity, play a critical role, amplifying reporting rates even when physical flood conditions are similar to other areas. Especially, for extreme street flooding service requests, impervious cover, homeownership, and building area have a more pronounced impact in Chatham than in Humboldt Park, reflecting the interplay of physical and social factors. These findings highlight the importance of tailored flood management strategies that integrate infrastructure improvements with community engagement to promote equitable resource allocation and resilience planning.

Source: Environmental Research Infrastructure and Sustainability

DOI: 10.1088/2634-4505/add4eb

Authors: Jangho Lee, Max Berkelhammer, Sun Young Park, Matthew D Wilson

Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Flood Risk Assessment and Management

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,515