Envisioning future scenarios to manage pluvial flooding in social-ecological-technological systems

Cities represent social-ecological-technological systems (SETS). Consequently, their environmental stressors require solutions that cover social, ecological, and technological domains. This chapter examines the environmental stressor of pluvial flooding in the context of the city of Valdivia, Chile. Pluvial flooding occurs when rates of precipitation exceed rates of infiltration and at which engineered drainage systems move water away from the surface. Researchers in the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) collaborated with practitioners from local and regional organizations in Valdivia to conceptualize the problem of pluvial flooding, co-produce strategies to manage its risk, and implement solutions across SETS domains. Researchers and practitioners involved in this collaboration have since applied lessons they have learned from confronting the environmental stressor of pluvial flooding to other environmental stressors at various scales. This chapter reflects on their experiences and offers important lessons for others managing their own environmental stressors, pluvial flooding or otherwise.