A Comprehensive Stormwater Management Framework: Evaluating and Identifying Flood Control Strategies Guided by an adapted SWOT Matrix

Urbanization significantly alters watershed runoff, increasing peak flows, reducing base flows, and degrading river ecosystems. Without adequate control measures, urbanization increases flood vulnerability, heightening flood risks and damaging urban infrastructure. Recent academic and technical perspectives emphasize the importance of efficient stormwater management, advocating for a systemic approach to address urban flooding risks. However, setting goals for stormwater management planning remains challenging due to its inherent complexity and multidisciplinary nature. This study introduces a novel framework, inspired by the SWOT analysis, designed to comprehensively evaluate urban flood potential and identify integrated flood control measures that combine natural and built environments demands. Applied to a real-world case study, the proposed framework demonstrated its feasibility and effectiveness in developing practical plans and proposing effective actions. Notably, the proposed method is adaptable and can be easily replicated in other regions, offering a scalable solution for improving urban flood resilience.