Analysis of urban flooding in Chicago based on crowdsourced data: drivers and the need for community-based mitigation strategies

Abstract This study examines 311 service requests for basement and street flooding in Chicago, focusing on the neighborhoods of Humboldt Park and Chatham. While precipitation is the primary driver citywide, neighborhood-specific factors significantly influence reporting behaviors. In Humboldt Park, flooding service request is driven largely by precipitation, with infrastructure and building conditions contributing to moderate flooding. In Chatham, socioeconomic factors such as homeownership rates and ethnicity, play a critical role, amplifying reporting rates even when physical flood conditions are similar to other areas. Especially, for extreme street flooding service requests, impervious cover, homeownership, and building area have a more pronounced impact in Chatham than in Humboldt Park, reflecting the interplay of physical and social factors. These findings highlight the importance of tailored flood management strategies that integrate infrastructure improvements with community engagement to promote equitable resource allocation and resilience planning.