Assessing urban flood resilience using the improved urban flood risk index in Tehran's 12th district

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering,, SR.C.,, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Environmental Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
This article evaluates and compares flood resilience using two indices: the Urban Flood Risk Index (UFRI) and the Improved Urban Flood Risk Index (IUFRI). The UFRI was introduced in 2019 as a multidimensional and relatively comprehensive index. The IUFRI was proposed in 2026 to address the weaknesses and limitations of the UFRI. While UFRI focuses on four components (hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and coping capacity), IUFRI adds the component of “coexistence capacity with floods.” By doing so, it also considers the environmental, social, and behavioral dimensions of residents, and therefore represents an index more aligned with the concepts of sustainable development. In this study, the two indices are evaluated in a practical and technical application, and the differences in their analytical results are examined. Based on the obtained results: 1) Overall, IUFRI indicates higher and better levels of resilience across different areas compared with UFRI; and 2) The spatial distribution and variation of the two indices across different areas are not identical and do not change proportionally. This means that the influence of the coexistence capacity component varies significantly among different areas. In general, the IUFRI provides a more comprehensive representation of resilience with an emphasis on sustainable development and can be considered a suitable option for assessing urban resilience. The findings of this research can support more informed decision making in urban management and broader policy development aimed at reducing flood risk and enhancing the resilience of urban areas.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 August 2026

  • Receive Date 30 June 2026
  • Revise Date 27 August 2026
  • Accept Date 31 August 2026
  • Publish Date 31 August 2026