PLUVIAL FLOODING IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS: AN ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH TO MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

The study examined Architectural Strategies and the Challenges of Pluvial Flooding in Port Harcourt Metropolis. The methodology integrates both primary and secondary data sources. With a population of 1,416, a sample frame of 708, and a sample size of 512 determined using the Taro Yamane method, the study employed field observations, surveys, and statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics. Additionally, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to identify flood-prone areas within the metropolis. Findings on the Awareness of Flood Mitigation strategies implemented in the neighborhood show that 61% of respondents are aware of the flood mitigation strategies implemented in their neighborhood, indicating that these measures are relatively well-known. However, 39% of respondents are unaware of these strategies, suggesting a gap in communication or outreach efforts while 69.5% of respondents acknowledged the presence of flood barriers, other measures are lacking. Improved drainage systems were deemed inadequate by 96.1%, and land-use planning and early warning systems were ineffective for 98.6% and 96.7% of respondents, respectively. Furthermore, only 26.6% recognized public awareness campaigns, indicating limited community engagement. Findings on the challenges hindering successful implementation of flood mitigation measures in the study area indicate that the implementation of flood mitigation measures in Port Harcourt faces challenges due to insufficient funding (99.8%) and inadequate infrastructure (99.4%). Regulatory issues also pose a significant obstacle, with 84.8% of respondents acknowledging difficulties in policy enforcement. However, community resistance is less of a concern, as 71.1% of respondents indicated minimal opposition to flood mitigation efforts. From the findings, the study recommends that Architectures should incorporate BGI into building design: Incorporate BGI features into building design from the outset, evaluate site conditions, drainage patterns, and environmental factors and develop maintenance plans to ensure BGI systems continue to function effectively.