Social Resilience to Flooding: A Case Study of Material Stocks in Surrey, British Columbia

Abstract

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a call for international action towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The integration of different sustainable development goals can alleviate the impacts of climate change and advance the development of more sustainable infrastructure and resilient communities. One of the core impacts of warmer global temperatures is rising sea levels and increased severity and frequency of storms. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9, 11 and 13 is to strengthen infrastructure and community resilience to improve the adaptive capacity of cities related to climate hazards.

The research examines the impacts of climate change, specifically flooding and sea level rise, on the City of Surrey. It employs a spatial methodology using LiDAR data to create a Digital Elevation Model, identifying vulnerable areas and infrastructure. The study uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to quantify material stocks in buildings and roads potentially affected by flooding.

Key findings indicate that significant portions of buildings (12.59%) and roads (27.17%) would be impacted under various flood scenarios, particularly in regions like Crescent Beach and Cloverdale. The study estimates substantial losses in material stocks associated with different return periods and sea level rises. Additionally, a social flood resilience index reveals that areas with low resilience, marked by older populations and economic challenges, are concentrated in Cloverdale and South Surrey, while more resilient areas are found in Newton and Fleetwood. This analysis emphasizes the importance of linking social factors to flood risk, aiming to inform planning and policy for enhancing community resilience against climate hazards.