Coastal cities worldwide are increasingly exposed to the compounded impacts of sea-level rise (SLR), storm surges, and extreme weather events, posing escalating risks to critical infrastructure, ecosystems, and socio-economic systems. This study presents an integrated, multi-sectoral assessment of coastal vulnerability and resilience, using Visakhapatnam, a rapidly urbanizing coastal metropolis in India as a representative case. It contributes to advancing the understanding of compound flood risks and supports the development of adaptive pathways for resilient and sustainable coastal futures.
The research employs a combination of Digital Elevation Models (DEM), geospatial overlay analysis, and sector-specific infrastructure mapping to evaluate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity under SLR and storm surge scenarios. The findings reveal that key infrastructure systems including transport networks, port facilities, energy and telecommunication systems, and critical social infrastructure such as hospitals and schools are highly vulnerable due to low elevation, dense urban development, and flood-prone conditions. Industrial zones, heritage assets, and tourism infrastructure located along the coastal corridor further intensify systemic risk, highlighting the cascading impacts of compound flooding across interconnected urban systems.
A key insight of the study is the amplification of flood risks resulting from the interaction between SLR, storm surges, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Vulnerabilities are not only physical but also functional, particularly in high-density areas with limited drainage capacity. This underscores the inadequacy of conventional sectoral planning approaches in addressing complex, multi-hazard climate risks.
To address these challenges, the study proposes a comprehensive  Integrated resilience framework combines flood-proofing, asset elevation, climate-resilient design, land-use regulation, early warning systems, and data-driven governance, strengthened by institutional coordination, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building to enhance adaptive capacity.
A major contribution of this research is the development of a multi-sectoral decision-support framework that integrates physical risk assessment with governance and socio-economic dimensions. The study advocates interdisciplinary, data-driven approaches, including AI-enabled analytics and digital platforms for real-time risk monitoring and planning.
The findings demonstrate that achieving coastal resilience requires systemic transformations beyond engineering solutions, encompassing governance reforms and community participation. This study offers actionable insights and a scalable model for rapidly urbanizing coastal regions, contributing to the global discourse on climate adaptation and resilient, sustainable ocean-linked urban systems.
Keywords:
Sea-Level Rise; Coastal Flooding; Compound Risks; Urban Resilience; Climate Adaptation