IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v88y2017i1d10.1007_s11069-017-2856-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing the effectiveness of flood road gauges with color coding

Author

Listed:
  • Fang Jing

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Li-Zhuang Yang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Ya-Li Peng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Ying Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Xiaochu Zhang

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    University of Science and Technology of China
    CAS)

  • Da-Ren Zhang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed many drowning tragedies on roads, even where flood gauges were equipped to warn drivers about the depth of the flood water. The effectiveness of traditional flood gauges using the digit representation has been questioned. According to the attention–knowledge–compliance three-stage model, we propose that color coding can improve the effect of flood gauges. The present study compared the performance of a prototypical color flood gauge with two types of digit flood gauges in four experiments. Our results revealed a general advantage of color flood gauges over digit flood gauges in all testing conditions (with or without reflection and dynamic or static observation), which was manifested in both a sample of people lacking driving experience and a sample of experienced drivers. Specifically, the mean accuracy of color gauge conditions in the four experiments increased by at least 16%, and the mean response time to the color gauge was shortened by at least 0.8 s compared with the digit gauge. The substantial benefit of color gauges over digit gauges suggests that color coding can be used to improve the effectiveness of flood gauges on flood-prone roads. Because of its low cost, the color coding flood gauge may be useful in the developing world to warn against extreme rainfall.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang Jing & Li-Zhuang Yang & Ya-Li Peng & Ying Wang & Xiaochu Zhang & Da-Ren Zhang, 2017. "Enhancing the effectiveness of flood road gauges with color coding," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 88(1), pages 55-70, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:88:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-017-2856-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-017-2856-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-017-2856-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-017-2856-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. E. Shamir & K. Georgakakos & C. Spencer & T. Modrick & M. Murphy & R. Jubach, 2013. "Evaluation of real-time flash flood forecasts for Haiti during the passage of Hurricane Tomas, November 4–6, 2010," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 67(2), pages 459-482, June.
    2. Milou Kievik & Jan Gutteling, 2011. "Yes, we can: motivate Dutch citizens to engage in self-protective behavior with regard to flood risks," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 59(3), pages 1475-1490, December.
    3. Torsten Grothmann & Fritz Reusswig, 2006. "People at Risk of Flooding: Why Some Residents Take Precautionary Action While Others Do Not," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 38(1), pages 101-120, May.
    4. Jie Liu & Zhenwu Shi & Dan Wang, 2016. "Measuring and mapping the flood vulnerability based on land-use patterns: a case study of Beijing, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 83(3), pages 1545-1565, September.
    5. Jessica Ludy & G. Kondolf, 2012. "Flood risk perception in lands “protected” by 100-year levees," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 61(2), pages 829-842, March.
    6. Peter J. Webster, 2013. "Improve weather forecasts for the developing world," Nature, Nature, vol. 493(7430), pages 17-19, January.
    7. Dennis Parker & Sue Tapsell & Simon McCarthy, 2007. "Enhancing the human benefits of flood warnings," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 43(3), pages 397-414, December.
    8. Zhaopei Zheng & Shanzhong Qi & Yuetong Xu, 2013. "Questionable frequent occurrence of urban flood hazards in modern cities of China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(1), pages 1009-1010, January.
    9. Omvir Singh & Manish Kumar, 2013. "Flood events, fatalities and damages in India from 1978 to 2006," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 69(3), pages 1815-1834, December.
    10. Shuyeu Lin & Daigee Shaw & Ming-Chou Ho, 2008. "Why are flood and landslide victims less willing to take mitigation measures than the public?," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 44(2), pages 305-314, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zeynep Altinay & Eric Rittmeyer & Lauren L. Morris & Margaret A. Reams, 2021. "Public risk salience of sea level rise in Louisiana, United States," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(4), pages 523-536, December.
    2. Fengwan Zhang & Xueling Bao & Xin Deng & Wei Wang & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "Does Trust Help to Improve Residents’ Perceptions of the Efficacy of Disaster Preparedness? Evidence from Wenchuan and Lushan Earthquakes in Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Rebecca E. Morss & Julie L. Demuth & Ann Bostrom & Jeffrey K. Lazo & Heather Lazrus, 2015. "Flash Flood Risks and Warning Decisions: A Mental Models Study of Forecasters, Public Officials, and Media Broadcasters in Boulder, Colorado," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(11), pages 2009-2028, November.
    4. Karina Landeros-Mugica & Javier Urbina-Soria & Irasema Alcántara-Ayala, 2016. "The good, the bad and the ugly: on the interactions among experience, exposure and commitment with reference to landslide risk perception in México," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(3), pages 1515-1537, February.
    5. Khalid Oubennaceur & Karem Chokmani & Florence Lessard & Yves Gauthier & Catherine Baltazar & Jean-Patrick Toussaint, 2022. "Understanding Flood Risk Perception: A Case Study from Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, March.
    6. Wim Kellens & Ruud Zaalberg & Philippe De Maeyer, 2012. "The Informed Society: An Analysis of the Public's Information‐Seeking Behavior Regarding Coastal Flood Risks," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(8), pages 1369-1381, August.
    7. Raul P. Lejano & Muhammad Saidur Rahman & Laila Kabir, 2020. "Risk Communication for Empowerment: Interventions in a Rohingya Refugee Settlement," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(11), pages 2360-2372, November.
    8. Osberghaus, Daniel, 2015. "The determinants of private flood mitigation measures in Germany — Evidence from a nationwide survey," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 36-50.
    9. Ling Tian & Peng Yao & Shi-jie Jiang, 2014. "Perception of earthquake risk: a study of the earthquake insurance pilot area in China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 74(3), pages 1595-1611, December.
    10. Chou, Wan-Jung & Huang, Yu-Chia & Chang, Ching-Cheng, 2015. "Precautionary Intentions and Risk Perceptions: Empirical Evidence from the Victims of Typhoon Morakot," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205549, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    11. Richert, Claire & Erdlenbruch, Katrin & Grelot, Frédéric, 2019. "The impact of flood management policies on individual adaptation actions: Insights from a French case study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-1.
    12. Carolyn A. Lin, 2023. "Flood Risk Management via Risk Communication, Cognitive Appraisal, Collective Efficacy, and Community Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Gisela Wachinger & Ortwin Renn & Chloe Begg & Christian Kuhlicke, 2013. "The Risk Perception Paradox—Implications for Governance and Communication of Natural Hazards," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(6), pages 1049-1065, June.
    14. Wim Kellens & Teun Terpstra & Philippe De Maeyer, 2013. "Perception and Communication of Flood Risks: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(1), pages 24-49, January.
    15. Keshun Zhang & Elizabeth J. Parks-Stamm & Yaqi Ji & Haiyan Wang, 2021. "Beyond Flood Preparedness: Effects of Experience, Trust, and Perceived Risk on Preparation Intentions and Financial Risk-Taking in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Karina Landeros-Mugica & Javier Urbina-Soria & Irasema Alcántara-Ayala, 2016. "The good, the bad and the ugly: on the interactions among experience, exposure and commitment with reference to landslide risk perception in México," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(3), pages 1515-1537, February.
    17. Pamela McElwee & Tuyen Nghiem & Hue Le & Huong Vu, 2017. "Flood vulnerability among rural households in the Red River Delta of Vietnam: implications for future climate change risk and adaptation," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 86(1), pages 465-492, March.
    18. Chen Qing & Shili Guo & Xin Deng & Wei Wang & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "Stay in Risk Area: Place Attachment, Efficacy Beliefs and Risk Coping," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-19, February.
    19. Iven Schad & Petra Schmitter & Camille Saint-Macary & Andreas Neef & Marc Lamers & La Nguyen & Thomas Hilger & Volker Hoffmann, 2012. "Why do people not learn from flood disasters? Evidence from Vietnam’s northwestern mountains," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 62(2), pages 221-241, June.
    20. Delin Liu & Xiaole Chang & Siyu Wu & Yongling Zhang & Nana Kong & Xiaobing Zhang, 2024. "Influencing Factors of Urban Public Flood Emergency Evacuation Decision Behavior Based on Protection Motivation Theory: An Example from Jiaozuo City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:88:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-017-2856-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.