Assessment of Rainstorm Waterlogging Disaster Risk in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas Based on Land Use Scenario Simulation: A Case Study of Jiangqiao Town in Shanghai, China

Abstract

The impact of flooding on cities is becoming increasingly significant in the context of climate change and rapid urbanization. Based on the analysis of the land use changes and rainstorm waterlogging inundation scenarios of Jiangqiao Town from 1980 to 2020, a scenario analysis was conducted to simulate and assess the rainstorm waterlogging disaster risk in 2040 under three land use scenarios (a natural development scenario, Scenario ND; an economic growth scenario, Scenario EG; and an ecological development priority scenario, Scenario EP) and three rainstorm scenarios with return periods of 10, 50, and 100 years. The following results were found: (1) Land use change is a significant factor in the risk of urban rainstorm waterlogging disaster caused by surface runoff and inundation depth change. In particular, the resultant increase in impermeable surfaces such as residential land and industrial land and the decrease in farmland during urbanization would lead to an increase in urban rainstorm waterlogging disaster risk. (2) Under three rainstorm scenarios, the future land use exposure elements and losses are consistent in terms of spatial distribution; from 10-year to 100-year return periods, they manifest as an expansion from the south to the surroundings, especially to the central region of the study area. The locations at risk are mainly distributed in the central and southern regions of Jiangqiao Town. (3) The economic losses are different in different land use scenarios and rainstorm scenarios. In the context of rainstorm scenarios with return periods of 10, 50, and 100 years, the total losses in land use scenario ND are CNY 560 million, CNY 890 million, and CNY 1.07 billion; those in land use scenario EG are CNY 630 million, CNY 980 million, and CNY 1.19 billion; and those in land use scenario EP are CNY 480 million, CNY 750 million, and CNY 910 million. The total losses of land use EP are the lowest by comparison. So, the influence of land use change on the rainstorm waterlogging disaster risk shows obvious differences among different rainstorm scenarios. This study has important reference value for decision making on land use management and flood disaster risk management in rapidly urbanizing areas.