Local Adaptation of Blue-Green Infrastructure in Urban Planning : A Spatial Approach to Flood Management in Norrköping Municipality.

Climate change and urban expansion are escalating flood risks, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions like Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI). While BGI planning is advancing in Sweden, it faces challenges such as limited urban space, posing a "wicked problem". Effective BGI implementation often lacks strategic coherence and spatial precision. This thesis addresses this by using Norrköping Municipality, particularly its flood-prone city center along Motala Ström, as a case study. The study aimed to identify strategic BGI locations by selecting criteria and utilizing analysis tools to pinpoint priority areas for improved flood management.The research combined qualitative methods, specifically stakeholder interviews, providing insights, with quantitative techniques. It employed GIS and a Spatial Criteria Selection (SCS) model to systematically assess suitable areas. The SCS model evaluated areas based on their physical suitability, vulnerability to a 100-year flood event, and the presence of existing BGI plans.Key findings reveal that 64.31% of Norrköping Municipality is suitable for BGI implementation, while 35.69% is not. The SCS model is crucial as it focuses the analysis on critical, vulnerable zones, such as areas susceptible to a 100-year flood event. By integrating this targeted approach with existing BGI plans, the study significantly reduces the overall area needing immediate intervention that was initially identified by the model. This process effectively highlights highly vulnerable areas that are either suitable but currently lack plans, or are located near existing BGI, suggesting a need for enhancement. This spatial targeting method is deemed effective for resource allocation and complements strategic urban planning by identifying "hot spots" for action. The thesis provides guidance for city planners prioritizing BGI implementation for flood risk management.