Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

Fall 9-25-2025

Abstract

This literature review combines literature on global flood prevention, hard engineering, Nature-Based Solutions, IFRM and policy to examine current strategies and case studies. It begins by examining the key role that hard engineering plays in the current main forms of flood prevention and then analyses its weakness when it comes to the increasing frequency and severity of weather events. The review then explores the growing importance of NBS and how its development can significantly reduce flooding whilst also having a plethora of other benefits. A portion of the review is dedicated to emerging technologies such as EWS and IFRM. The review is grounded upon key lessons learnt through case studies such as Hurricane Harvey (2017 and the Kerala Floods (2018 and how these events illustrate how hard engineering practices work in diverse contexts and the man vs nature philosophy that it relies upon. The review concludes by identifying the significant gaps in research, along with outlining plans and directions for the study.

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