Mapping the Flood Risk Index of Bontang City: A Fundamental Effort for Sustainable City Resilience

¹ Masters Department of Public Administration, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia
² Department of Public Administration, Universitas Ngurah Rai, Indonesia
³ Department of Government Science, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: bambang.irawan@fisip.unmul.ac.id

Abstract

Flooding is an annual threat that disrupts the social, economic, and ecological stability of Bontang City, mainly due to climate change and weak spatial planning. This study aims to comprehensively map flood risk by integrating spatial approaches and analytical methods, including the Geomorphic Flood Index, fuzzy logic, and Geographic Information Systems. The three risk components, namely hazard, multi-dimensional vulnerability, and local capacity, were mapped individually and then synthesized into an integrated flood risk map. The results show that high-risk areas are influenced by physical exposure, socio-economic vulnerability, and limited institutional capacity. On the other hand, Bontang Lestari demonstrates that strong community preparedness can significantly reduce flood risk, even in areas with high exposure. This research provides a foundation for spatial and community-based flood mitigation policies. Future studies should consider land cover dynamics and the role of local actors in supporting more adaptive and sustainable flood risk reduction strategies.