| Author | Sani Limthongsakul |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.UE-17-01 |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Environmental Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. UE-17-01 |
| Abstract | Peri-urban area of mega-cities in developing country faces many environmental management
challenges. Among them is localized flooding caused by inefficient public management and
inadequate stormwater infrastructure, which triggers private actors to undertake autonomous
adaptation. Although local adaptation reduces risks to those who took actions, it can become
maladaptive when ri~ks are spread to others. Several studies argue the opportunity to scale up
info1mal adaptation and synergize with fo1mal intervention to reduce flood risks and increase
resiliency in the urban poor community. Yet, the studies of shortfall of autonomous adaptation
that become maladaptive is limited.
To fill in this gap, this research explores and characterizes formal and autonomous adaptation
against local floods at the community level. The study examines how stormwater institutional
anangement within this transition area affects the characteristics of st01mwater drainage
management in the peri-urban area of Bangkok. This study took an approach of a qualitative
analysis utilizing a single embedded case study and used the mixed-methods including semistructure
interview, document review and field observation. Purposive sampling was used to
interview respondents from the government agencies while the snowball method was used to
interview the flood-affected households. The case study selected Lat-sawai municipality in Lum
Luk Ka district located in a large irrigated land area called Rangsit field in Pathum Thani
province to represent the general characteristics of Bangkok's rapidly developing urban fringe
where local residents have been experiencing localized flooding after normal rainfall.
It was found that localized flooding creates negative impacts to residents' wellbeing and
physical environment including difficult mobility, health risks from polluted floodwater, and
damaged road surface. The root causes of localized flooding in LSW municipality are
intertwined and mainly related to arbitrary land development and institutional incapacity, where
regulations are ineffective and organizational performance falls behind public expectations.
Inadequate and inefficient formal intervention against localized flooding encourage autonomous
adaptation. Autonomous adaptation benefits those who take an active role, yet they can spread
risks to others and become maladaptive. Unfair risks ' distribution of localized flooding caused
by autonomous adaptation creates tension and conflicts among stakeholders and increase local
flood risks to the whole community.
The study findings contribute to the characteristics of sto1mwater governance within the
transition area, where public and private actors interact dynamically. This research confirms
autonomous adaptation against localized flooding can be maladaptive and implies further
exploration on the interplay between fo1mal and informal adaptation within other transition area
of Asian mega-cities. The study calls for the integration between land and water sectors at the
national level. The interagency and intra-organization at regional and local level will support
transboundary management of sto1mwater within the transition area. This study reflects the
dynamic roles of autonomous adaptation coinciding with the existing stormwater management
in the transition area. Yet, findings from other p.eri-urban areas with different socio-economic
and biophysical background may be variable, thus a further comparative case analysis is needed.
A further study on how storm water management can be integrated into the existing government
structure both horizontally and vertically is recommended.
Keywords: autonomous adaptation, extended mega-urban region, localized flooding, peri-urban
drainage, stormwater governance, urban flood risks. |
| Year | 2017 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. UE-17-01 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Sajor, Edsel E.;Grunbuhel, Clemens;
Kim, Sohee Minsun;Zevenbergen, Chris; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2017 |