ABSTRACT
Over the past 30 years, the number and impact of flood disasters has continued to increase across Asia (Dutta and Herath, 2004; ABI, 2005). This has occurred despite vastly improved abilities to monitor, warn and describe floods. In Thailand, this, in part, reflects growth in absolute numbers of people living in flood-prone areas and higher values of infrastructure at risk (Nicholls et al, 2007). Thus, around Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other urbanizing regions, new flood-sensitive settlements and land uses are expanding into low-lying wetlands and rice paddy landscapes (see Figure 9.1).
