Review of different methods and techniques used for flood vulnerability analysis

Abstract. Assessment of vulnerability is the primary objective of flood hazard management. One of the most significant purposes of flood vulnerability appraisal is to make a precise relationship between the theoretical conceptions of flood vulnerability and the ground level management policies. A variety of approaches have been defined by many researchers to evaluate vulnerability. As such, the selection of the most suitable methodology is essential for policymakers to adequate mitigation policies. The purpose of the present study is to review all the vulnerability methods floating over the research universe and compare their benefits and drawbacks. This study evaluated more than 250 selected articles related to the assessment of vulnerability published between 1980 and 2020 to determine their competence in the estimation of flood vulnerability. The findings show that most of the research works are related to statistical methods, and the methods used to allocate weight to different indicators associate to the vulnerability. Moreover, most of the vulnerability assessment methods are centred around the single type of hazard, i.e., flood, drought, etc. As such, the results recommend the necessity for developing a new integrated vulnerability assessment framework applicable to worldwide considering multiple risks.