Exploring Urban Flood Policy Trends Using a Socio-Hydrological Approach—Case Studies from Japanese Cities

Abstract

Most industrialized nations have attempted to control floods through civil engineering technologies. However, these measures have failed in the face of immense natural forces. Through allomorph analysis and expert interviews, this study examined the situation of implementing urban flood rules in major Japanese cities. The river canal in the Tokyo region is mostly maintained through infrastructure, and Tokyo has a diverse network of systems linked by rivers, canals, and drainage channels, which demonstrates its dominance in structural and civil engineering flood management. In Osaka Prefecture, flood risk management is an ongoing process built on a structural engineering foundation, and local governments continue to examine and update new policies to handle the risks and difficulties produced by ever-changing flood catastrophes. To enhance public education and awareness, local administrations in the Toyama and Chiba Prefectures are implementing programs to educate locals about flood hazards and preparation. To summarize, public engagement is an important component of flood risk mitigation and management in Japanese communities. Governments may help communities become more resilient and prepared in the face of floods by involving local residents, institutionalizing public education and awareness, and building volunteer networks. This is the conclusion reached as a result of socio-hydrological intervention.

Unraveling Urban Disaster Management: A Deep Dive into SETS Implications through a Case Study of Toyama City, Japan

“…It recently advocated a large-scale worldwide compact city project to develop a sustainable compact city that can respond to disasters and urban complexity, following the SDGs [4]. Hong and Tanaka [5] compared the flood control policies of major Japanese cities and discovered that Toyama City mostly prevents urban flooding through socio-hydrology. However, due to constraints in as sessing the overall direction of disaster management in Toyama City, a visual map of the policy direction connected to the management and prevention of urban disaster in To yama City was created by analyzing government documents based on the SDGs [4].…”

“…Socio-hydrology has been crucial in developing Toyama City's flood risk control program [24]. This program employs a holistic and cohesive strategy that combines physical interventions, disaster readiness and response, controlled land uti lization, and community engagement [5]. This strategy has several advantages: it not only increases public knowledge and understanding of flood hazards but also strengthens the community's ability to withstand and recover from floods and improves methods to re duce flood risks [3].…”

“…Socio-hydrology is employed to understand the course of sustainable urban disaste management in Toyama City because flooding has historically been the most serious ur ban disaster in the city [5]. Socio-hydrology provides a systematic method for studying the complex relationship between natural water systems and social systems by construct ing SETS [24].…”

“…The insights provided by socio-hydrology about the influence of hu man activities on water-related disasters are crucial for urban planning, particularly in light of climate-change-induced alterations to water systems that heighten the risks o such disasters [30]. Socio-hydrology facilitates predicting and preparing for changes and establishing effective disaster management policies [5]. This approach focuses on under standing and solving the intricate connections between human societies and water sys tems [5].…”

“…Socio-hydrology facilitates predicting and preparing for changes and establishing effective disaster management policies [5]. This approach focuses on under standing and solving the intricate connections between human societies and water sys tems [5].…”