The role of heritage conservation in disaster mitigation: a conceptual framework for connecting heritage and flood management in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Built heritage has developed slowly over time, and so it represents generations of local knowledge rooted in the specific temporal and geographical conditions of the city. This paper addresses obstacles for preservation and development in a modern, globalized world and makes a case for heritage preservation as a tool for sustainable development, especially in the fast-urbanizing cities of Asia. Chiang Mai, Thailand is used as an example to demonstrate how the built heritage was developed according to flood risk, and how connecting heritage preservation and flood management strategies will produce a more sustainable future.