Evaluating flood impact for improving the resilience of urban multi-modal transportation networks

Abstract

Urban multi-modal transportation networks, such as subway and tram, are essential for socioeconomic development but vulnerable to climate change-induced floods. This research focuses on Amsterdam’s subway and tram networks, assessing flood impacts on multi-modal transport functionality and resilience. Travel patterns for 524 origin-destination pairs were analyzed under normal and flooded conditions using Dijkstra's shortest-path algorithm. Results show that tram stations are more vulnerable to flooding than subway stations, causing greater accessibility losses. However, intermodal transfers mitigate these impacts by reducing the number of inaccessible routes by 4%-8% when both stations are affected. Despite intensified flooding reducing network connectivity, the increased usage of critical transfer stations emphasizes their vital role in maintaining functionality. Additionally, the indirect impacts on unflooded stations highlight the importance of interdependencies in multi-modal systems. This research provides critical insights into flood-induced impacts and supports the further formulation of strategies to enhance the resilience of urban transportation system.