Flood Prevention Patterns in Urban Areas (A Case Study: Mashhad, Iran)

Flooding imperils the lives and property ofmany people around the world every year. Changes in land use,increasingurbanization,non‐standard constructions, oldsewage systems, and impervious surface growthinurbanareas have a significant impacton therise ofsucha risk. Cities are characterized by vast impervious surfaces and manmadecanals.Increasingurbanizationinrecent years, together with the phenomenon ofclimate change and its impact onthe type andamount ofrainfall, has intensified the occurrence ofstormwaterrunoffin urban areas. Consideringthe rapid growth ofurban development andurbanizationinIran,problemssuch asfloodedpassages and environmentalemissions and risks caused by flooding due to the lack of a properdrainagesystem,improperdisposal ofsurface water,and inefficientgutters are among primaryproblemsin urbanareas.Mashhadasthe world’ssecond largestreligiousmetropolis with a dry climateandabundantenvironmentalconstraints, limitednatural resources,suddenexpansion ofurban areasinrecent decades, indiscriminate construction around thecity, marginalizationparticularlyintheway ofwatercourses, and obstruction of urban canals and watercourses have led to increased levels ofrunoffinurban areas, financial costs,mobilizationofresources, and numerous other problems for the city and its residents.

Keywords:

surface runoff , floodedpoints , reducingrisk