2.3. Cultural Heritage in Flood Risk Assessment

And then we come to the Ayutthaya which is has been an ancient kingdom as I said to you it also reflects some stories about the Rama the birthplace of Rama and Ayutthaya. But in Thai it has been founded in 1351 by King U Thong who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, and this is often referred as Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam.

Ayutthaya, founded in 1351, is an ancient kingdom that has a rich cultural and historical background. It was established by King U Thong as a response to a health crisis in his previous capital, Lop Buri, specifically a smallpox outbreak. The significance of Ayutthaya is highlighted by its role as the second Siamese capital after the Sukhothai kingdom, which was the first capital of Thailand. The city is often referred to as the Ayutthaya Kingdom due to its importance in Thai history.

Think of Ayutthaya like a historical city that is known for its cultural roots, similar to how Washington, D.C. represents the historical and political roots of the United States. Both cities are vital to their respective nations' identities.

So this has become more of the second capital, and this city is located at the junction of Chao Phraya and Lopburi and Pasak rivers, so it is almost a kind of delta kind of thing. So this particular historic city has some religious meanings and the historical understanding to it. And there is a cultural significance and cultural integrity and as a cultural context which actually frames this historical city.

Ayutthaya's geographic location at the confluence of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi, and Pasak rivers emphasizes its significance. Being in a delta region, its unique landscape plays a crucial role in both its historical development and cultural narratives. Additionally, the city is not just a physical space but also holds deep religious and cultural meanings for the people of Thailand, contributing to its heritage.

Imagine the way a city like Venice is shaped by water; its historical significance also comes from its unique position among waterways. In the same way, Ayutthaya's location and cultural narratives frame its importance in Thailand's history.

And this has been 17th century it has been destroyed by the Burmese military and then later on it has been converted as a Ayutthaya historical park when it has been recognized as in a school world heritage site, and this is where it has reflected with its outstanding universal value where we talk about OUV.

In the 17th century, Ayutthaya faced destruction by the Burmese military leading to significant changes in its status and visibility. Many centuries later, the ruins of the city were transformed into the Ayutthaya Historical Park. This transformation was important as it helped protect the site and highlighted its universal value, leading to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Think of a once-thriving town that suffers from disaster, but later, through preservation efforts, becomes a historical site for learning and tourism, much like how many battlefields and ruins in Europe have been turned into historical parks, educating future generations about their past.

So this is a group of authors which worked that has been published in natural hazards and Zoran Vojinnovic, and Michael Hammond, Daria Golub, Sianee Hirunsalee, and others you know they have actually published is a very recent document. So first they talk about what is a flood risk assessment you know because that is FRA, we call it as flood risk assessment that is a very basic key tool as a traditional approach in the traditional approach to understand and managing the flood risk.

A recent paper by a group of researchers discusses flood risk assessment (FRA). FRA is considered a traditional method used to evaluate and manage risks associated with flooding, particularly in areas of cultural heritage. This assessment is crucial for understanding how floods can affect significant historical sites, like Ayutthaya, which contains valuable cultural assets.

You can think of flood risk assessment like a weather forecast that predicts storms. Just as forecasts help us prepare for potentially damaging weather, flood risk assessments help protect important cultural landmarks from flooding disasters.

And if you look at FRA techniques much of the work has been mostly focused on the quantitative aspects or the target based on how much has been impacted or the cause of them. And the cost of damage to the property and the business description and you know either it may be quantified in financial terms. And when it talks about these quantifiable impacts, do not reflect the entire effects of flooding you know that like, for instance, there is not only about the monetary aspects, there is a physical aspect, and there is also to do with the non-monetary aspects of the intangible aspects of it.

Flood risk assessment tends to emphasize quantitative data such as financial losses from flooding. However, this focus can neglect other important factors, including physical damage and intangible cultural losses, such as the destruction of heritage sites and community identities. Recognizing both quantitative and qualitative impacts is essential for a comprehensive understanding of flood risks.

Consider a family home that gets damaged in a flood. While insurance can cover the financial loss, the emotional attachments and memories—like a photo album or heirloom—represent intangible losses that cannot be replaced or quantified. This reflects how cultural heritage is often at risk in flood situations.

So when we say about the hazard assessment of any floods that is where the hydrologist they talk about many hydrological models when it is a 1d model the 2d models and which actually talks about the represent the process by which rainfall is converted into the surface runoff.

The hazard assessment involves the use of hydrological models to predict how rainfall influences flooding. These models can be one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D), with each representing different complexities in how water from rainfall turns into surface runoff. Understanding these processes is vital for flood preparation and risk evaluation.

Imagine conducting a science experiment where you pour water into different containers and observe how it flows. This is similar to how hydrologists model water flow in flood risk assessments, allowing them to predict where and how flooding might occur.

And what is the output out of it it takes us a hazard map, and the vulnerability map, and that is how a flood risk map regeneration. But there is also the risk perception, risk acceptance as risk to whom then how do they prepare for it how do they accept it risk behaviour so this is again this whole thing comes from the social and community.

The outputs of flood risk assessments include hazard maps and vulnerability maps, which visually communicate areas at risk of flooding. Additionally, understanding community perceptions of risk and how they prepare for and accept risks is crucial. Risk behavior varies greatly among communities based on their experiences, knowledge, and social structures.

Think of communities planning for a hurricane. Some may evacuate, while others may stay based on their past experiences and the trust they have in forthcoming forecasts. This illustrates how risk perception influences actions taken to manage flood risks.

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