Research leader

Dr Ken Dale
Dr Ken Dale Research Leader

Research team

Martin Wehner Research Team
Tariq Maqsood
Dr Tariq Maqsood Research Team

End User representatives

Leesa Carson
Leesa Carson End-User
Greg Buckley End-User
Jackson Parker End-User
Duncan McLuckie End-User
Greg Howard
Greg Howard End-User
Elliott Simmons
Elliott Simmons End-User

The motivation for this project arises from the experience and observations made during the 2011 and 2013 floods in Australia, which caused widespread devastation in Queensland. Considerable costs were sustained by all levels of government and property owners to effect damage repair and enable community recovery.

A fundamental reason for this damage was inappropriate development in floodplains and a legacy of high risk building stock in flood prone areas. While the vulnerability and associated flood risk for newer construction is being addressed (moderated) by new standards (ABCB, 2012), building controls and land use planning, the vulnerability associated with existing building stock remains. This vulnerability contributes disproportionally to overall flood risk in many Australian catchments.

This research addressed this issue and is targeted at assessing mitigation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of existing residential building stock in Australian floodplains. The project addressed the need for an evidence base to inform decision making on the mitigation of the flood risk posed by the most vulnerable Australian houses and complements parallel CRC projects for earthquake and severe wind.

The project has developed a building classification schema to categorise Australian residential buildings into a range of typical storey types. Mitigation strategies developed nationally and internationally have been reviewed. A floodproofing matrix has been developed to assess appropriate strategies for the selected storey types. All appropriate strategies have been costed for the selected storey types through the engagement of quantity surveying specialists. Vulnerability curves have been developed featuring reduced losses achieved through appropriate mitigation strategies for the five selected storey types.

Read the final report here.

Year Type Citation
2021 Report Dale, K., Maqsood, T. & Wehner, M. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings – final project report. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2021).
2020 Report Maqsood, T., Dale, K. & Wehner, M. Benefit versus cost analysis and optimal cost effective mitigation strategies. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2019 Conference Paper Maqsood, T., Dale, K., Edwards, M. & Nadimpalli, K. Flood vulnerability functions: detailed vs generalised approach . AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, 2019). at <https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/>
2019 Report Dale, K., Maqsood, T. & Wehner, M. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood proof buildings - annual report 2018-2019. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2019).
2019 Report Dale, K., Maqsood, T., Edwards, M. & Nadimpalli, K. Cost-Effective Mitigation Strategy Development For Flood Prone Buildings: Flood Damage Models For Floodplain Management Workshop. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2019).
2017 Report Maqsood, T. et al. Launceston flood risk mitigation assessment - June 2016 floods: suburb of Newstead. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2017 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M., Mohanty, I., Corby, N. & Edwards, M. Launceston flood risk mitigation - June 2016 floods. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2017 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy for flood prone buildings: annual project report 2016-17. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2017 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M., Edwards, M., Ingham, S. & Henderson, D. Testing of simulated flood effect on the strength of selected building components. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2016 Conference Paper Maqsood, T., Wehner, M., Dale, K. & Edwards, M. Development of flood mitigation strategies for Australian residential buildings. AFAC16 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
2016 Journal Article Maqsood, T., Wehner, M., Dale, K. & Edwards, M. Cost-effective mitigation strategies for residential buildings in Australian flood plains. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering 6, 550-559 (2016).
2016 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings: Annual project report 2015-2016. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
2016 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings: Development of costing modules for flood mitigation strategies. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
2015 Presentation Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings. (2015).
2015 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings: literature review of mitigation strategies. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2015).
2015 Report Wehner, M. & Maqsood, T. Dungog Flood 20-21 April 2015: post-flood damage survey. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2015).
2015 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M. & Dale, K. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings: Annual project report 2014-2015. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2015).
2015 Report Maqsood, T., Wehner, M., Edwards, M. & Dale, K. Cost-Effective Mitigation Strategy Development for Flood Prone Buildings Annual Report 2014. (2015).
2014 Report Maqsood, T., Dale, K. & Wehner, M. Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings - Preliminary Building Schema. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2014).
Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings
25 Aug 2014
The main objective of this research is to develop cost-effective strategies to mitigate damage to residential...
Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for flood prone buildings
18 Aug 2015
The main objective of this research is to develop cost-effective strategies to mitigate damage to residential...
Tariq Maqsood Conference Poster 2016
12 Aug 2016
The main objective of this research is to identify cost-effective strategies to mitigate damage to...
Experimental testing of residential building materials exposed to inundation
30 Jun 2017
The main objective of this research was to assess the strength and durability implications of immersion of...
Cost-effective mitigation strategy for flood prone buildings
30 Jun 2017
The main objective of this research is to develop cost-effective strategies to mitigate damage to residential...