Understanding the impacts of flooding in cities is a complex and multifaceted issue, influenced by competing environmental, social, economic, and political factors. Lack of comprehensive data and information on flood events exacerbates the issue, hindering the ability of cities and their residents to effectively prepare for and respond to disasters. No one understands the importance of information in emergency preparedness better than MapAction. This is a principle which underpins my research, leading to an academic partnership between MapAction and I.
By: Ambreen Masud. PhD student in geospatial systems at Newcastle University
I’m a PhD student in geospatial systems at Newcastle University researching flood risk in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. My research seeks to integrate spatial and community-driven data to evidence flood risk in urban contexts. A key component of the research is collaborating with local communities, as they are the bearers of the consequences of flooding. The goal of this partnership is to have more agency in shaping the research: for them to share their lived experiences.
Cartagena – official population just under one million – is located on the low-lying plains of the Caribbean coast and experiences a tropical climate with intense rainfall; factors which make it susceptible to flooding due to rising sea level and heavy precipitation. Flooding is worsened in Cartagena by issues such as increased rainfall intensity and duration, due to climate change, deforestation of mangroves, rapid (and sometimes) unplanned urbanisation. All this is compounded by inadequate drainage systems. As a city that experiences recurring flooding, this is a big problem as it causes daily disruption, damage to homes and infrastructure, loss of lives and livelihoods, economic losses, and stress amongst other health concerns. Just last year alone, 15,000 families were impacted by one extreme flood event.
Putting at-risk people on the map
During the 2023 rainy season, I spent 10 weeks in Cartagena with a placement at local university Universidad Tecnológica de Bolivar (UTB). During this time, participatory mapping sessions were carried out with three neighbourhoods to better understand the local impacts of flooding. These sessions displayed areas of the neighbourhoods that were at risk of flooding, which are not currently recognised in official flood risk maps. Due to this omission, these communities are not supported by flood risk interventions and mitigation strategies. Putting at-risk people and places on the map is crucial to disaster preparedness because without identifying the problems, effective responses to flood events are impossible.
Sessions displayed areas of the neighbourhoods that were at risk of flooding, which are not currently recognised in official flood risk maps. Due to this omission, these communities are not supported by flood risk interventions and mitigation strategies. Putting at-risk people and places on the map is crucial to disaster preparedness because without identifying the problems, effective responses to flood events are impossible.
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A workshop in Cartagena. Photo: Ambreen Masud.
The participatory mapping sessions also highlighted key flood impacts such as vehicle accidents, accidents due to open manhole covers or potholes, damage to infrastructure and property, loss of life, material goods and income. All community groups argued that the impacts are exacerbated due to excessive waste and the lack of maintenance of the canals. I also spoke with researchers and different departments within the local mayor’s office that echoed these sentiments. These discussions provided insights into the city’s complexities from various stakeholders’ perspectives and led me to discover previously overlooked data.
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Next steps
I will be going back to Cartagena again to build on the research from 2023, incorporating the concerns raised by communities during the mapping sessions. Citizens will be able to collect information about location, flood level, damaged infrastructure and waste via an app. Collected data will be integrated with other spatial data to build better evidence around flooding in the city. A paper survey will be available for anyone unable to use technology, but training will be provided to everyone. The overall findings of this research will demonstrate community exposure to flooding, and this will be shared back with research stakeholders, including the mayor’s office, to support measures in flood preparedness and planning.
This research is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the CDT in Geospatial Systems at Newcastle University. Additional fieldwork funding has been awarded and is supported by the RGS-IBG Postgraduate Research Awards, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). The principal researcher is Ambreen Masud. Research supervisors are Maria Valasia Peppa, Jon Mills, Cat Button, Yady Tatiana Solano-Correa, with industry supervision from MapAction.
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MapAction received support for this partnership from the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) as part of a broader project on urban risk management.