Investigating flood resilience perceptions and supporting collective decision-making through fuzzy cognitive mapping

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155854
• Publication Date: 2022-05-11T07:13:26Z
• Authors: Sara Mehryar; Swenja Surminski
• Keywords: Resilience; Community Resilience

Improving flood resilience of communities requires a holistic understanding risks and options as well the preferences priorities different stakeholders. Innovations in risk assessment have helped to identify gaps their management strategy but selecting implementing solutions remains big challenge for many decision-makers. In addition traditional appraisals cost-benefit assessments this also calls participatory process which various stakeholders are encouraged adopt system-level approach identifying interventions that can maximise range benefits co-benefits. study, we investigate how combination modelling measurement methods help decision-makers with strategies. We apply system thinking combining Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) framework called Flood Resilience Measurement Communities (FRMC). first stakeholders' biases on interventions, then lead them through exercise using FCM FRMC elicit mental models representing important aspects interrelation. These aggregated, collective perceptions knowledge stakeholders, used most beneficial actions terms direct indirect impacts resilience. case Lowestoft, coastal town England exposed significant risk. Developed close collaboration local authorities, ambition is support decision-making interventions. find enables inclusive about ultimately encourage transformative decisions prioritization investments.