Enhancing urban resilience through integrated flood policy and planning: a mixed-methods evaluation of retention ponds for flood mitigation in South Bandung

This study focuses on South Bandung, an area where flooding is a recurring problem, causing significant damage to infrastructure and displacing local residents. The region’s vulnerability stems from its geographical location, surrounded by rivers and low-lying areas, coupled with challenges such as the heavily polluted and sedimented Citarum River. This research examines the role of retention ponds in Andir and Cieunteung as a strategic response to these flood management challenges. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis with deep learning-based semantic segmentation techniques to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the retention ponds. Normalized difference water index and semantic segmentation approaches using multispectral images (red, green, and blue and near-infrared) from the PlanetScope constellation satellite are utilized to assess water bodies and flooding patterns, while field observations and stakeholder interviews provide qualitative insights into the operational effectiveness of these infrastructures. While this study highlights that the construction of retention ponds can help mitigate flood events, it also emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach combining urban planning, community engagement, and multi-scale infrastructure development in addressing the complex challenges of flood resilience and urban sustainability.