Flood Risk Mapping for All: a Generic Flood Risk Assessment Methodology for the Small Island Developing States
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Flood Risk Mapping for All: A Generic Flood Risk Assessment Methodology for the Small Island Developing States Hanne Glas Doctoral dissertation submitted to obtain the academic degree of Doctor of Engineering Technology Supervisors Prof. Greet Deruyter, PhD* - Prof. Em. Philippe De Maeyer, PhD** * Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University ** Department of Geography Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University May 2021 ISBN 978-94-6355-487-9 NUR 905 Wettelijk depot: D/2021/10.500/35 Members of the Examination Board Chair Prof. Em. Luc Taerwe, PhD, Ghent University Other members entitled to vote Prof. Luuk Boelens, PhD, Ghent University Prof. Renaat De Sutter, PhD, Ghent University Prof. Amaury Frankl, PhD, Ghent University Prof. Stefan Van Damme, PhD, Universiteit Antwerpen Katrien Van Eerdenbrugh, PhD, Witteveen+Bos Belgium Supervisors Prof. Greet Deruyter, PhD, Ghent University Prof. Em. Philippe De Maeyer, PhD, Ghent University WORD OF GRATITUDE As it has been more than a year now, working from home with little to no social contact, I cherish the amazing adventures and moments that have defined my PhD path even more. These moments could not have existed without the wonderful people that have guided me, professional as well as personal, these past seven years and helped me to get where I am today. There is no other person I could start this word of gratitude with than you, Greet. You were there from the very beginning, believing in me. You’ve been my biggest support, advising me and guiding me through these past seven years as true mentor. We’ve had some amazing experiences together, from working in the beautiful snowy landscape of Juuka to enjoying the sun at the Bulgarian seaside. Our biggest and most intense adventure was without a doubt the fieldwork in Haiti, and I’m so grateful that I could share this experience with you. What I’ve loved most in every single one of our adventures, were our endless talks. Sitting in the train station of Stockholm, we were so wrapped up in all our talking that we’ve even missed our train. Thank you for being there, always. I can’t imagine a better mentor or a better friend. As crucial as Greet has been, this doctoral dissertation would have never existed without the help of Philippe. You’ve given me a solid research foundation and handed me the tools and contacts to get off to a flying start. In the following years, you let me set my own course, supporting me from the sidelines in the best possible way. Thank you for always sharing your ideas, your feedback and unlimited knowledge. During the course of this PhD, I got the opportunity to do fieldwork in amazing environ- ments. These fieldwork missions could not have happened without the aid of a multitude of people. As the first fieldwork in Jamaica was performed in 2014, right at the beginning of this PhD research, I was still very new in the flood risk research field and the world of academia in general. I’m grateful to Maxine for accompanying me during the fieldwork mission and assisting me in the research. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together. Arpita and Sherene, we would have been lost in Jamaica without you. Thank you for showing us your country and the study area, sharing your contacts and aiding us in the data collection. The second fieldwork, in Haiti, was a lot more complicated to organize. It took us a few tries (and a few years), but it was definitely worth the trouble. Katrien and Johan, and all the colleagues at Join for Water, thank you for your assistance in the preparation of the fieldwork, for arranging the journey and providing us with the necessary contacts. Once we’ve arrived in Haiti, we were received so well by Ann and I the local employees of Join for Water, who were our local guides and support system during the trip. Bruce and Deb, I will never forget your warmth and hospitality. Together with Sadrack and the rest of the staff members of ODRINO, you were an immense help in assisting us on the field. It was truly an unforgettable experience and I hope we can meet each other again someday. Thank you to Ivan, Steven, Danitza and everyone else at Antea Group that have helped in the development of the flood risk assessment toolbox. Thank you for the brainstorm sessions, for listening to my ideas and theories, and for adapting them into a useable toolbox. I hope that we can keep working together in the future to further develop the methodology and create a toolbox that makes a real difference. A special word of thanks to Tom, for introducing me at Antea Group and for supporting me at the World Water Week in Stockholm. After over a year of working from home, I would almost forget that there was a time that we spent our days at the office. I miss the Schoonmeersen coffee breaks, the small talk and the banter. Frank, Dirk, Tom, Kathleen, Wouter, Marijke, Veerle, Hilde, Ignaas, Marc, Ben, Dieter, Inge, Lucas and Sam, I can’t wait to meet you all again in the coffee corner and catch up. A special thanks to my office boys, Gieljan, Anthony, Jordi and Ticho, for being my ‘background noise’ in the office. If anyone still thinks women talk a lot, I’m happy to invite them for a day at our office. So many of my coworkers have become friends, and have stayed friends, even when their career path took them to other places. Kizzy, Sara, Charlotte, Koos, Arne, Leo, Peter and Sven, I can’t wait for more dinners, drinks and celebrations in our near future. Koos, as my friend who became my coworker and then again just my friend, I’m grateful you’ve been there for the entire trip, having my back. Greet and I have missed you at work, but I’m sure we will see each other again soon. Charlotte, my art hero, thank you for painting my cover illustration. As your biggest fan, I can’t wait to see what you create next! I was lucky enough to not have just one UGent home. Although I spent too little time at AMRP during my PhD, I really want to thank Luuk, Maja, Jurgen and the other colleagues and researchers of the AMRP group for welcoming me with open arms in your team. I always enjoyed the strategic meetings and team buildings and I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon, even if we have to cycle during it. A special word of gratitude to the research meeting, with Tim, Annelies, Peter, Karim, Isabelle, Hanne, Amir, Noaman, Mustafa, Tristan and Loren for listening to my test defense, giving me tips and advice and helping me in these last important steps of the PhD road. While every single one of these colleagues and coworkers has been crucial in this adventure, I could not even have started it without the support from my family. Mom and dad, I’m so proud that I’m your daughter. Thank you for your support and your interest in my professional career, but an even bigger thanks for being there in my personal life. I can’t wait for summer diners in the garden at Ellezelles. Diete en Dieter, I have enjoyed watching your boys grow up these past years, and I can’t wait for more walks in the Gavers, or exploring a new zoo. Diete, you are an amazing big sister, looking out for me, asking the right questions, always interested in how I’m really doing. Chantal, Geert, Joren, Tatjana, Eva and Jelle, I look forward to many more WORD OF GRATITUDE OF WORD long dinners with too much food and too many drinks – hopefully one day in the castle II of Lede, that is rightfully yours – because no one does the Burgundian lifestyle better than the Debruyne family. Hanne and Brecht, friends that became family, there are no cooler people to drink wine with on a French terrace in 40°C and to play Rummikub with. Thank you for being my friends, and for being the best godparents for Renée I could have wished for. The last person I like – or better: need – to thank is Arne. You’ve been there, every step of the way. You’ve given me a push when I needed one, you’ve calmed me down when I went into full stress mode, you’ve listened to my troubles and my joys and always let me blow off some necessary steam. You’ve kept me strong through this whole adventure, and I would not have been where I am today without you and your support. Thank you for being my safe home base, for making me laugh and for challenging me. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for us. III IV SUMMARY The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group 52 countries and territories located in the regions of Latin-America, the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, characte- rized by low-lying, densely populated coastal areas and development challenges due to an unstable economy and political situation. According to the IPCC, the SIDS have a disproportionately higher vulnerability and lower resilience to natural hazards than other countries. While flood risk assessments have been researched and developed extensively in many studies over the past few decades, governments and policy makers in vulnerable developing regions such as the SIDS still struggle to take correct measures to protect their communities and minimize disaster consequences.