Framework for urban flood risk assessment – a hydrological modelling approach: the case of Nilambur, Kerala

The study has evolved in response to the challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization occurring worldwide, which contribute to an increased frequency of natural disasters. It addresses flood hazards in Kerala’s Nilambur urban area, where climate change and rapid urbanization heighten disaster risk. Kerala's coastal location and steep terrain in the Western Ghats increase vulnerability, particularly as one of India’s most densely populated states. The research identifies flood risk zones applying overlay analysis, using data from the 2018 Kerala Floods, to create a flood risk framework responsive to runoff volume and thereby flood susceptibility. Key factors include climatic variables, terrain characteristics like elevation, slope, soil, land-use land-cover including urban density, and hydrological and ecological elements like stream networks and floodplains. These are integrated in the SWAT tool to model flood risks, creating a resilient flood risk assessment framework that combines hydrological and ecological parameters.