As coastal hazards rise with climate change, European cities face increasing exposure to flooding. A recent CoCliCo study published in Nature compares several built-up area datasets to assess this exposure and highlights the need for precise data in urban planning.
Information on urban land use beyond the urban-rural divide can enhance assessments of coastal hazards by refining damage estimates and supporting adaptation planning. However, inconsistent definitions of “urban” in past studies have resulted in varying exposure estimates. This study examines the exposed population and built-up area across four settlement types defined by different datasets.
Key Insights:
- Urban Vulnerability: The study compares datasets, revealing significant discrepancies in estimating urban areas at risk from coastal flooding.
- Data Accuracy: Precise data helps decision-makers better plan for future flood risks and enhances climate adaptation strategies.
- Resilience Planning: Comprehensive urban assessments help ensure European cities’ preparedness against rising sea levels and storm intensities.
Conclusion:
Our study highlights the critical importance of selecting the appropriate built-up area data for accurate population and exposure assessments. The choice of dataset can significantly affect estimates, with variations in population exposure reaching up to 65%(127 million people). This emphasises the need for careful consideration of dataset characteristics, including spatial resolution and classification thresholds, to ensure the data’s suitability for its intended purpose. Furthermore, refined urban classifications, beyond the simple urban-rural divide, are essential for more precise risk and damage assessments. Especially in rapidly growing suburban areas. Future research should explore more nuanced urban distinctions and assess the impacts of other contributing data variables to enhance the accuracy of exposure estimates.
To read the full study for more insights on adapting urban areas to coastal hazards in Europe click here.
Authors: Hedda Bonatz, Lena Reimann & Athanasios T. Vafeidis