An Agent Based Modelling tool exploring decision-making processes for flood risk management

Cities at risk of extreme hydro-meteorological events need to be prepared to decrease the extent of the impacts. However, the majority usually reacts to the catastrophe, having failed to proactively prepare against extremes. This can be a result of both absent structural protection measures and problematic governance. While for the first, models exist that can simulate the effect, the effect of the latter is difficult to quantify. This work aims to explore how the different decisions authorities make, regarding for example: whether or not to cooperate with someone; build something; assign funding to something else etc., affect the flood risk management of an area. For that matter, the Institutional Analysis Framework was used to conceptualise the decision-making processes of authorities responsible for flood risk management. Based on this, an Agent Based Modelling tool has been created, enabling the exploration of the system’s behaviour under different decisions and risk scenarios. The tool has used as a case study the responsible authorities for flood protection in the city of Rethymno, Greece. The tool has a user-friendly interface enabling the end-user to explore the drivers of decision-making processes under different conditions.