A dual-index decision-support framework for flood resilience in cultural world heritage cities: Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and modern strategies

A dual-index decision-support framework for flood resilience, integrating the Environmental Impact Index (EII) and Sustainability Index (SI), reveals that hybrid configurations combining traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and modern engineering strategies achieve more balanced outcomes in cultural World Heritage cities. Unlike TEK-based systems, which excel in environmental compatibility and long-term sustainability, or engineering-dominant approaches, which prioritize institutional reliability but often introduce ecological trade-offs, hybrid models like those in Ayutthaya demonstrate context-sensitive integration. This study highlights that adaptive flood resilience depends on the alignment between ecological processes, governance structures, and cultural practices rather than the dominance of a single strategy. The framework offers a transferable tool for evaluating flood resilience in heritage cities but requires further validation through longitudinal and participatory research.

Hasan, Md. R., & Ahmad, M. M. (2026). A dual-index decision-support framework for flood resilience in cultural world heritage cities: Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and modern strategies. Sustainable Futures, 12, 102031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2026.102031