Spatial differentiation of flood vulnerability

The concept of flood risk is closely related to floods and floodplains and is the product of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Although the knowledge of flood hazards and exposure has improved significantly, vulnerability studies remain the most challenging obstacle in assessing flood risk. The primary goal of this project is to assess the spatial differentiation of flood vulnerability in municipalities in Poland and Austria. The project will investigate the exposure to the threat of the area and its population, as well as the social sensitivity and ability of communes and their populations to respond to and cope with natural hazards. The project sets four research hypotheses: (1) understanding the correlation between the magnitude of exposure, sensitivity, and resilience of municipalities to floods makes it possible to adjust municipalities` flood risk management strategies and reduce their vulnerability to flooding; (2) the public`s awareness of flood hazards and sociodemographic characteristics strongly affect a commune`s level of vulnerability to disasters; (3) the municipalities most vulnerable to natural hazards include those with insufficient funding to protect the public from flooding, establish relevant educational measures, or provide effective flood risk communication; and (4) greater public awareness of flood hazards and better knowledge of how to act during disastrous events increase the effectiveness of flood management strategies, both in terms of evacuating the population and minimising vulnerability levels. The motivation for this research is to gain better knowledge of the vulnerability of communes to flooding in Poland and Austria, the level of preparedness of their populations and infrastructure to this threat, and their ability to return to pre-flood operational conditions. The rationale for such considerations stems from the increasing drivers of natural hazards globally in recent decades combined with shifts in the approach to flood risk management. The project`s innovation lies primarily in its research procedure, which analyses the relationship between the individual elements of flood vulnerability in communes (exposure, sensitivity, and resilience). The project is a multifaceted approach incorporating physical, social, environmental, and institutional characteristics, that have not yet been applied on such a scale in Poland and Austria. The implementation of this project will contribute to methodological advancements in international research on this topic. The findings of this project will be translated into recommendations for policymakers responsible for flood risk management (particularly flood vulnerability) and transport infrastructure development.