Articles | Volume 20, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-2067-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-2067-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
A generic physical vulnerability model for floods: review and concept for data-scarce regions
Mark Bawa Malgwi
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Bern, Institute of Geography, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012
Bern, Switzerland
University of Bern, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research,
Hochschulstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Sven Fuchs
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of
Mountain Risk Engineering, Peter-Jordan-Str. 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Margreth Keiler
University of Bern, Institute of Geography, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012
Bern, Switzerland
University of Bern, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research,
Hochschulstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
University of Bern, Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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- A Systematic Review of Flood Damage Assessment: Insight for the Data-Scarce Regions N. Romali et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-025-04265-9
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- Current and Future Trends for Resilient Inland Waterway Transportation Systems during Flood Disruptions S. Ahmadi et al. https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13721
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- A data-mining approach towards damage modelling for El Niño events in Peru F. Brill et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2020.1818636
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- Physical vulnerability assessment to flash floods using an indicator‐based methodology based on building properties and flow parameters M. Leal et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12712
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- Integrated Flood Impact and Vulnerability Assessment Using a Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Mission with the Perspective of an Operational Service in Lombardy, Italy M. Righini et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020140
- Estimation of cascading hydroclimatic hazard impacts on supply systems and associated economic shocks M. Vieira Passos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00129-9
- Flood Impacts on Civil Infrastructure Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Impacts, Modeling Tools, Emerging Technologies, and Mitigation Strategies R. Abegaz et al. https://doi.org/10.1061/NHREFO.NHENG-2477
- Water Resources Management in the Piura Region: Territorial Assessment of Dynamic Water Vulnerability E. Sánchez Ruiz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030362
- Vulnerability patterns of road network to extreme floods based on accessibility measures T. Papilloud & M. Keiler https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103045
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- Evaluating topography-based approaches for fast floodplain mapping in data-scarce complex-terrain regions: Findings from a Himalayan basin P. Dhote et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129309
- Expert-based versus data-driven flood damage models: A comparative evaluation for data-scarce regions M. Malgwi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102148
56 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Development of an empirical flood fragility curve for levee failure and its application in probabilistic flood risk assessment: A case study of Citeureup Village, Indonesia M. Farid et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105793
- Population exposure predicts flood losses in Sweden K. Karagiorgos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00194-8
- The role of socio-economic and property variables in the establishment of flood depth-damage curve for the data-scarce area in Malaysia S. Sulong & N. Romali https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2022.2099292
- A Systematic Review of Flood Damage Assessment: Insight for the Data-Scarce Regions N. Romali et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-025-04265-9
- A new methodology for probabilistic flood displacement risk assessment: the case of Fiji and Vanuatu L. Rossi et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1345258
- Combining environmental-socio-economic data with volunteer geographic information for mapping flood risk zones in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China H. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104679
- A scenario-based analysis of wetlands as nature-based solutions for flood risk mitigation using the TELEMAC-2D model K. Enu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100236
- Exploring cascade propagation mechanisms of flood risk in dynamic heterogeneous infrastructure networks: A systematic framework with a heterogeneity perspective J. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2026.112420
- Review article: Potential of nature-based solutions to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks in sub-Saharan Africa K. Enu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-481-2023
- Global population datasets overestimate flood exposure in Sweden K. Karagiorgos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71330-5
- Challenges and best practices during the development of FEMA's National Risk Index K. Karagiorgos & T. Grahn https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105683
- Risk Assessment of Flash Flood to Buildings Using an Indicator-Based Methodology: A Case Study of Mountainous Rural Settlements in Southwest China Y. Zhen et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.931029
- Assessment of vulnerability and resilience of smallholder farming households to flood risks: Insights from the Southern Punjab region of Pakistan M. Raza & A. Hatab https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105600
- Why does institutional vulnerability matter? Perceptions of community members from the 2018 Montecito debris flows in California E. Goto et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105185
- Emerging strategies for addressing flood-damage modeling issues: A review S. Redondo-Tilano et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.105058
- Livestock vulnerability to flooding T. Lazzarin & A. Defina https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132613
- Characterization of damages in buildings after floods in Vega Baja County (Spain) in 2019. The case study of Almoradí municipality R. Moya Barbera et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03004
- A synergistic approach towards understanding flood risks over coastal multi-hazard environments: Appraisal of bivariate flood risk mapping through flood hazard, and socio-economic-cum-physical vulnerability dimensions D. Thakur & M. Mohanty https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166423
- Indicator-based approach for the assessment of intrinsic physical vulnerability of the built environment to hydro-meteorological hazards: Review of indicators and example of parameters selection for a sample area R. Agliata et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102199
- Current and Future Trends for Resilient Inland Waterway Transportation Systems during Flood Disruptions S. Ahmadi et al. https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13721
- Indicators of riverbank Erosion vulnerability assessment: A systematic literature review for future research N. Sultana & S. Paul https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydres.2024.06.002
- Pathways to enhanced microscale coastal flood risk assessment amid changing climate A. Kaur et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-025-07476-w
- Nonlinear Simulation and Vulnerability Analysis of Masonry Structures Impacted by Flash Floods Q. Fang et al. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6682234
- Does urban green infrastructure lead to equity issues for flood vulnerable areas? A case study in an urbanized polder area K. Zhou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.105941
- Assessing dynamic congestion risks of flood-disrupted transportation network systems through time-variant topological analysis and traffic demand dynamics X. Lin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2024.102672
- A Methodology for Vulnerability Assessment of Cultural Heritage in Extreme Climate Changes R. Cacciotti et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00564-8
- Methodological approach for mapping the flood physical vulnerability index with geographical open-source data: an example in a small-middle city (Ponferrada, Spain) L. Tascón-González et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06370-7
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- Evaluating targeted heuristics for vulnerability assessment in flood impact model chains A. Zischg et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12736
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- Rapid Probabilistic Inundation Mapping Using Local Thresholds and Sentinel-1 SAR Data on Google Earth Engine J. Liang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17101747
- Public Narrative Analysis for Disaster Resilience Building: Evidence from Morocco Earthquake M. Yeganegi & N. Komendantova https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards7010024
- A systematic review with bibliometric analysis of different approaches and methodologies for undertaking flood vulnerability research T. Nguyen et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-023-00865-8
- Preface: Estimating and predicting natural hazards and vulnerabilities in the Himalayan region W. Schwanghart et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3291-2024
- GIS-based multi-criteria analysis for flood hazard areas mapping of M’zab wadi basin (Ghardaia, North-Central Algeria) A. Hamlat et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15324982.2023.2235315
- A general methodological framework for hazard assessment in remote mountain areas combining geomorphological mapping with UAV survey E. Garova et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-9096-8
- A Method for Assessing Flood Vulnerability Based on Vulnerability Curves and Online Data of Residential Buildings—A Case Study of Shanghai Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182840
- Building-scale flood loss estimation through vulnerability pattern characterization: application to an urban flood in Milan, Italy A. Taramelli et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-3543-2022
- Meta-Analysis and Visualization of the Literature on Early Identification of Flash Floods Z. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14143313
- Physical vulnerability of buildings to flooding in Lilongwe City, Malawi M. Manda & C. Msasa https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3216
- Physical vulnerability assessment to flash floods using an indicator‐based methodology based on building properties and flow parameters M. Leal et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12712
- Improving pluvial flood simulations with a multi-source digital elevation model super-resolution method Y. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2271-2025
- Vulnerability Assessment in the Context of Earthquake Resilience: Case Study of Bayraklı, İzmir, Turkey H. Aydın & D. Gerçek https://doi.org/10.21324/dacd.1664234
- Systematic Mapping of Global Research on Disaster Damage Estimation for Buildings: A Machine Learning-Aided Study D. Rajapaksha et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061864
- A novel clay shrink-swell buildings damage model: From unstructured insurance data to the creation of buildings database, and the proposition of damage severity scale N. Mzungu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105636
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- Identifying physical vulnerability drivers increasing in exposed structures to floods Y. Hernández-Atencia et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2025.100512
- Global Flood Vulnerability Model: Building-Level Assessment Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing S. Olagunju et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18091425
- Integrated Flood Impact and Vulnerability Assessment Using a Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Mission with the Perspective of an Operational Service in Lombardy, Italy M. Righini et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020140
- Estimation of cascading hydroclimatic hazard impacts on supply systems and associated economic shocks M. Vieira Passos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00129-9
- Flood Impacts on Civil Infrastructure Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Impacts, Modeling Tools, Emerging Technologies, and Mitigation Strategies R. Abegaz et al. https://doi.org/10.1061/NHREFO.NHENG-2477
- Water Resources Management in the Piura Region: Territorial Assessment of Dynamic Water Vulnerability E. Sánchez Ruiz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030362
- Vulnerability patterns of road network to extreme floods based on accessibility measures T. Papilloud & M. Keiler https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103045
- Physical vulnerability to dynamic flooding: Vulnerability curves and vulnerability indices M. Papathoma-Köhle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127501
- Evaluating topography-based approaches for fast floodplain mapping in data-scarce complex-terrain regions: Findings from a Himalayan basin P. Dhote et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129309
- Expert-based versus data-driven flood damage models: A comparative evaluation for data-scarce regions M. Malgwi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102148
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 07 Jun 2026
Short summary
Mitigation planning and economic loss assessment generally rely on flood damage prediction models. However, unavailability of empirical data has limited the use of such models in data-scarce areas. This paper combines the vulnerability indicator and damage grade approach to develop a conceptual framework for predicting building damage in data-scarce regions. The framework can be implemented using only expert knowledge and facilitates transferability of flood damage models in data-scarce areas.
Mitigation planning and economic loss assessment generally rely on flood damage prediction...
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