Preface

Flood risk management aims to minimise the human and socio-economic losses caused by floods, while also taking into account potential benefits. Flood risk depends on both the probability of a specific event occurring and the potential impacts. Floodplain management plans can impact on land use planning and thereby reduce flood risk for areas of new development. Flood risk management is more difficult to design and implement for existing developed areas. Modifications such as construction of dams or levees can lessen the impact of floodwaters. Modifications to existing buildings can mitigate flood damage, and appropriate measures can assist community response to floods.

This book is divided into three sections. The first section has chapters dealing with flood risk prediction and management. Topics covered include development of a framework for groundwater management as a component of flood damage management (illustrated for a coastal region in western Taiwan); development of flood assessment frameworks including flood duration, timing and vulnerability (illustrated for Japan); steps for local communities to conduct contingency planning and assist in deciding response strategies (illustrated for the Philippines); possible impacts of climate change on flooding (considered for Thailand) and forecasting of floods (using examples from Mozambique in Africa).

The second section of the book has chapters on flood risk and the urban environment, with specific examples for a coastal urban location illustrated by Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and an inland urban environment illustrated by Mexico City. The third section deals with assessment of flood risks in the agricultural sector, specifically focusing on flood damage to rice crops in Asian river basins in the Philippines and Pakistan.

Flood risk management is important in many areas of the world. The book illustrates approaches developed for specific locations, but there is reason to believe that many of the approaches presented can be adapted to be generally applicable.

**II**

**Section 3**

*and Yoshio Tokunaga*

Flood Risk and Agriculture **109**

**Chapter 7 111**

*by Badri Bhakta Shrestha, Hisaya Sawano, Miho Ohara, Yusuke Yamazaki* 

Methodology for Agricultural Flood Damage Assessment

**John Abbot** University of Tasmania, Australia Institute of Public Affairs, Australia

> **Andrew Hammond** CQUniversity, Australia

**1**

Section 1

Flood Risk Prediction and

Management

Section 1
