Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Floods: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Last 20 Years

Urban flood vulnerability is a pressing concern due to climate change and rapid urbanization. These floods stem from a mix of natural elements like heavy rain, snowmelt, and geography, along with human-made factors such as urban growth, poor drainage, and climate change. They lead to various problems, such as property damage, transportation disruption, loss of life, waterborne illnesses, and environmental harm. This study conducts a thorough bibliometric analysis of research articles on urban flood vulnerability from 2003 to 2023 using the Scopus database and VOSviewer as a key tool. It aims to reveal changing trends, major research topics, notable authors, and global collaboration networks in this field. This study shows a significant rise in publications on this topic, highlighting its increasing significance in urban studies and disaster management. We use VOSviewer to visually represent bibliographic data, co-author relationships, and keyword associations, enhancing our grasp of the research field. Key findings reveal research clusters like "flood risk assessment," "urban planning," "climate change adaptation," and "community resilience." This underlines the interdisciplinary nature of urban flood vulnerability research, drawing from various fields, including environmental science, engineering, geography, and social sciences. This study highlights key authors and institutions in urban flood vulnerability research, explores regional differences in research output and collaboration, and provides a global view of research efforts. In conclusion, this bibliometric analysis provides a valuable overview of the research on urban flood vulnerability over the past two decades. It not only showcases the evolution of key themes and the collaborative networks within the field but also serves as a useful resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working towards mitigating the impacts of urban flooding in an increasingly vulnerable world. The research can address climate change concerns, infrastructure development for improved health and social well-being