Understanding How Sense of Place Shapes Community Resilience to Floods: A Multi-Context Study of Community Response and Adaptation

• Applicant: Dr. Sungju Han
• Subject Area: Human Geography
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 567661331

This research investigates how sense of place shapes community resilience to floods, as exemplified by recent catastrophic events like the 2021 floods in Germany's Ahr Valley. Sense of place reflects the complex relationship between people and their environment, encompassing identity, dependence, and emotional attachments that shape responses to environmental threats. Drawing on an integrated theoretical framework combining sense of place, social capital, and community resilience theories, this project examines how place-based connections influence flood response patterns across diverse contexts - from sudden catastrophic events to recurring floods. The research aims to: Understand how sense of place influences community responses to floods, by examining how sense of place intersects with risk perception, how social networks mediate adaptive behaviours, and how communities construct collective resilience strategies; Nuance existing frameworks of community resilience through a comprehensive analysis of place-risk relationships; and Inform flood risk management policy and practice through evidence-based recommendations. Through systematic comparison of four strategically selected cases - the 2021 Ahr Valley floods, recurring floods in Saxony, coastal floods in Vietnam, and a longitudinal cross-country dataset (US, Netherlands, China, Indonesia, UK) - the project reveals both universal mechanisms and context-specific patterns in place-risk relationships. The research employs a multi-stage, mixed-methods approach, integrating critical interpretative synthesis, quantitative analysis like structural equation modelling and multilevel modelling, combining quantitative analysis of large-scale surveys with qualitative insights from interviews and focus groups. The project will advance both theoretical understanding and practical applications in flood risk management through: six peer-reviewed publications, a policy toolkit for flood risk managers, and place-sensitive communication materials. By developing a comprehensive understanding of how place shapes community resilience across different flood contexts, this research will provide policymakers and practitioners with evidence-based strategies to strengthen flood resilience, addressing the growing threat of floods in a changing climate.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants