The Role of Construction Management in Flood Risk Identification and Land Use Planning: A Case Study of Shalman City, Iran

Abstract

Urban flooding represents one of the most significant natural hazards affecting cities worldwide, with impacts intensifying due to climate change and rapid urbanization. This study investigates the role of construction management in identifying flood-prone areas along river corridors and determining appropriate land use for urban development projects. Using Shalman City in Gilan Province, Iran, as a case study, the research integrates hydraulic modeling (HEC-RAS) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to delineate flood zones and assess management strategies. The findings demonstrate that an integrated construction management approach, combining structural measures (gabion construction) with non-structural strategies (reservoir operation and land use planning), can significantly reduce flood impacts. Results indicate that implementing detention reservoirs can reduce peak discharge from 600 m³/s to 300 m³/s, decreasing required gabion height from 8.0 m to 6.6 m and achieving cost savings of approximately 20.8 billion IRR (≈$500,000 USD) while storing 25.93 million m³ of water for beneficial use. This research highlights the necessity of integrating construction management principles—including risk management, crisis management, and time management—into comprehensive urban flood management frameworks.