Work

A Dynamic Simulation Framework for Evaluating the Impacts of Urban Flooding on Transportation Systems

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Road networks are a critical infrastructure system for the sustainable functioning of cities. However, they are frequently disrupted by urban flooding, leading to increased travel times and hindering emergency responses. This study proposed a novel dynamic flood–response simulation framework for urban transportation to evaluate the impacts of rainstorms and flooding on traffic systems, focusing on coupling the Integrated Hydrology and Hydrodynamics Urban Flood Model (IHUM) and the Simulation of Urban MObility (SUMO) model. The results obtained from Xiaoguwei Island, Guangzhou City, indicate that a 2-h rainstorm of a 2-year return period can affect traffic for over 4.5 h. During a 100-year return period rainstorm, average travel speed declines by 54%, while the emergency response time, for example, for police services, increases from 4.83 to 14.52 min. These findings highlight the significant impacts of flooding on urban traffic networks, assisting local authorities and stakeholders to proactively identify vulnerable network segments and prioritize targeted interventions for enhancing transportation system resilience to floods.

Source: International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

DOI: 10.1007/s13753-026-00697-y

Authors: Jiayue Li, Zhiwei Chen, Guoru Huang, Guangtao Fu

Institutions: University of Exeter, South China University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Flood Risk Assessment and Management

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Department of Education of Guangdong Province