The potential interface: Urban open spaces system to support urban flood prevention and mitigation

ABSTRACT Urbanization has significantly transformed natural hydrological cycles, leading to more frequent and severe urban floods, which in turn result in considerable social, environmental, and economic consequences. These effects are closely linked to land-use transformation, soil sealing, and inadequate spatial planning, particularly considering the limited integration between urban drainage systems and open spaces. In response, this study proposes an integrated methodological framework to support urban landscape planning by systematically identifying and evaluating open spaces with the potential to mitigate flood risk through multifunctional uses. The approach combines a quali-quantitative assessment of urban open spaces with hydrodynamic flood modeling, enabling a cross multi-layered spatial analysis of landscape attributes and drainage performance. By vertically integrating these layers, the method identifies interface zones where open spaces can operate as active components of a flood mitigation strategy. The identification of these interface zones supports urban planning and design processes, by incorporating the definition of a multifunctional open space system to enhance flood mitigation capacity and significantly reduce critical flood conditions. Strengthening the role of open and green spaces within the proposed system, this approach also improves environmental performance and contributes to urban quality of life. The proposed framework works as a decision-support tool for urban planning and policy-making, offering a transferable and scalable strategy to promote more resilient and sustainable urban flood management.