Riverside Settlement Landscape Strategies for Flood Risk Reduction

Abstract

Riverside settlements are vulnerable to flooding due to building density, a reduction in open
spaces and vegetation, low infiltration capacity, and limited runoff and drainage management.
This study aims to formulate landscape strategies that can be applied to riverside settlements to
support flood risk reduction, particularly in the urban context of Medan. The study employed a
literature review using a descriptive-qualitative approach. Data were obtained by searching for
scientific articles relevant to riverside settlements, flood risk, water management, green
infrastructure, and nature-based solutions. The selected literature was analyzed through the
stages of identification, classification, comparison, and synthesis. The results of the study
indicate that landscape strategies can focus on strengthening vegetation and open spaces,
increasing water infiltration and retention areas, implementing green infrastructure and naturebased solutions, integrating stormwater management with drainage systems, and increasing
community involvement in environmental management.These strategies need to be
implemented in an integrated manner at the household, neighborhood, and river basin levels
and combined with existing flood control infrastructure. The research findings provide a
conceptual foundation for the planning of riverside settlements that are more adaptive to flood
risks while taking into account ecological functions, spatial needs, and the social sustainability
of the community.