Knowledge Integration from Concept to Practice: An Exploratory Study of Designing a Flood Resilient Urban Park in Viet Nam

Abstract

Urban centres worldwide are affected differently by flooding. In Vietnam this impact is increasingly negative caused by a process of rapid urbanisation. Traditional spatial planning and flood mitigation planning are not able to deal with this growing threat. This article therefore proposes to focus on increasing the participation of local communities in flood control and management. It explores, on the basis of a design studio exercise, how lay knowledge on flooding can be integrated within planning processes. The article presents a theoretical basis for the structured criterion for site selection for a flood resilient urban park from the perspective of science, then discloses the tacit and explicit knowledge of the flood-prone area and finally integrates this knowledge into the design strategies for flood resilient urban park design. Keywords-Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP, design resilience, flood resilient urban park, knowledge integration. I. BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS A. Traditional Planning and Flood Mitigation Planning in Vietnam HE formal planning of landscapes in Vietnam can be divided into three main branches: 1) overall socioeconomic development planning (on a national to local level); 2) spatial planning (including land use and master planning); and 3) sector planning. In general, the planning framework envisions that the lower-level plans should follow the directions laid out in the upper-level plans. However, experience shows that, in reality, this workflow is often broken up, and planning processes are rather disjointed and characterized by synchronizing low-level between the vertical and horizontal sectors [1]. Moreover, a lack of financial support from government and provincial budgets are obstacles to the monitoring, maintenance, improvement, design, and funding of flood control projects [2]. In the context of the general urbanization, management, and planning challenges in Vietnam, climate change has increased the pressure on local urban governments, with inefficient planning often exceeding their capacities and resources. To Quyen, Le is with the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and is with the Faculty