Reviewing the potential of urban safety space theory to enhance urban flood resilience in China

Abstract Driven by rapid urbanisation and climate change, flood risk in Chinese cities has exposed the limitations of traditional hard-engineering flood control. Although theoretical and practical advancements, such as sponge cities, have been made, urban areas continue to face challenges in dynamically responding to severe flooding. This research investigates the enhancement of Urban Flood Resilience (UFR) in China through the adaptive integration of Urban Safety Space (USS) theory. USS theory emphasises initiative-taking, disaster prevention, and real-time management through IoT and big data analytics. Although it was successfully applied in Hefei city to optimise emergency response, the theory's potential in managing UFR remains insufficiently explored. This study identifies critical gaps, particularly the lack of systematic, quantifiable resilience assessment and long-term post-disaster adaptation within the existing USS framework in UFR. To address these limitations, the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model is integrated into the USS framework, which provides a structured approach for evaluating resilience. The combined USS-PSR framework displays potential for precise quantification of flood pressures, as well as dynamic monitoring of urban infrastructure and community vulnerabilities, in further studies. Furthermore, the introduction of Green Infrastructure (GI) as an adaptive strategy enhances ecological resilience and post-disaster recovery. This study contributes by offering a comprehensive theoretical integration of USS and PSR, which not only highlights the benefits of GI but also establishes a foundation for further validation and practical application in China. Future research could focus on validating the proposed framework through case studies and comparative international analyses to strengthen UFR in China.