Flood Risk of Open Spaces: From Microscale Factors of Built Environment to Risk Reduction Strategies

Urban Built Environment can be defined as a network of Open Spaces (including their infrastructures) and buildings, where users live and interact. In case of an emergency, the risk in the Built Environment highly depends on the characteristics of disastrous event, buildings and Open Spaces physical vulnerability, and on users’ behavioral patterns and emergency response. Open Spaces represent a fundamental element during the disaster and the immediate aftermath. Floods denote one of the most challenging disasters for Open Spaces safety. In fact, they influence the floodwater spreading in the urban layout, affecting the building damage and the emergency evacuation process. From a critical review of recent advancement in the field, this work addresses the role of Open Space factors in flood risk—considering the composing elements and their interactions—to pursue a microscale approach.