Richard Newman - Research Student

Telephone: 25724
Room: D120A

email : r.newman@sheffield.ac.uk

Research Group

PhD title

Reducing flood impact using a non-structural approach: cultivating system resilience through stakeholder capacity building and data management using GIS

PhD Research objective

Produce a strategic framework to be hosted on existing local authority (LA) GIS databases detailing an approach to reduce tangible and intangible flood impact in SUCAs in compliance with the current and future UK context. The framework will provide the basis for a new Socio-Technical systems approach capable of evolving in accordance with changes in the Socio-Technical system, such as adjustments to stakeholder capacity and future climatic unknowns.

PhD Research hypothesis

Tangible and intangible flood impact in small urban catchments (SUCAs) can be reduced by cultivating system resilience through: (1) transitioning of dwellers to stakeholder status by endowing them with an Equivalent Professional Role (EPR) and (2) formalising interactions between public and professional stakeholders. Both conditions are achieved under stakeholder specific capacity building regimes.

Publications

• Newman, R., Ashley, R., Molyneux-Hodgson, S., Cashman, A. (2011) Managing water as a socio-technical system: the shift from 'experts' to 'alliances'. Engineering Sustainability: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Accepted for publication on 8th September 2010
• Newman, R., Ashley, R.M., Blanksby, J.R. and Molyneux-Hodgson, S. (2008) Stakeholder Engagement as an Essential Component for the Transition to Sustainable Flood Risk Management. In Proceedings of 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage (ICUD), August 2008, Edinburgh, IWA London, ISBN 978 1899796 212. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK