Urban Pluvial Flood Risk Assessment in Porto: A Multi-Criteria Spatial Analysis Considering Physical and Social Factors

Abstract

Urban rainfall flooding represents a growing challenge for cities, especially in the context of climate change. Identifying flood-prone areas is crucial for implementing effective monitoring, mitigation and prevention measures. This study proposes a methodology for assessing the risk of urban pluvial flooding in the city of Porto, through a multi-criteria spatial analysis, where topographical, infrastructural, demographic and building elements were combined with physical and social factors. The results make it possible to classify the different areas of the city into four levels of risk: low, medium, high and very high, and to prioritise the zones with the greatest risk, contributing to more efficient management of resources in the mitigation of urban pluvial flooding.