2025 Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages 61-74
Urban flood early warning systems (EWS) are increasingly recognized as vital components of climate resilience strategies in rapidly urbanizing areas. With intensifying hydrometeorological risks and infrastructural vulnerabilities, timely and accurate flood alerts are essential to minimizing disaster impacts. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from over 40 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025, spanning technological innovations, modeling techniques, governance frameworks, and community engagement approaches in urban EWS.
Guided by PRISMA methodology, the review identifies key advances in real-time monitoring (IoT, remote sensing), data-driven flood forecasting (AI/ML), and integrative decision-support tools. However, persistent barriers, including fragmented institutional coordination, limited model generalizability, and inequitable risk communication, continue to hinder EWS effectiveness, especially in low-resource settings.
The paper proposes a multi-dimensional framework for future research and implementation, emphasizing hybrid modeling, participatory design, and inclusive governance. Findings call for integrated, context-sensitive EWS architectures that balance technical sophistication with social trust and equity.
