Assessing Flood Risk: Identifying Indicators and Indices for Period-Specific Flood Measures

Abstract. Flood risk assessment is pivotal for comprehending and mitigating flood impacts. Although various indicators and indices are employed for flood risk assessment, the precise selection criteria for these indicators, particularly, concerning their roles and applicability during flood periods, remain unclear. This paper seeks to address this gap by identifying indicators and indices crucial for determining appropriate measures tailored to different flood periods. We conducted a systematic literature review, focusing on articles utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology to evaluate indicators across diverse risk factors, including sensitivity. By analysing these studies, we identified the most frequently used indicators for each index and risk factor. The intricate interplay among indicators and risk factors necessitated a clear conceptual framework. Our findings offer recommendations for selecting risk indicators and indices aligned with specific actions and measures corresponding to distinct flood periods. By bridging this gap in understanding, our research contributes to enhancing flood risk assessment methodologies and informing effective mitigation strategies.