Data set for the publication "What Is the Cost of Urban Flooding? Changes in Travel and Emission Costs of Łódź's Transport System in Poland" (dataset)

Abstract

This dataset contains spatial data representing areas potentially affected by urban pluvial flooding in Łódź, Poland. The data were generated using a Blue Spot modelling approach implemented in SCALGO Live and provide a spatially explicit representation of potential surface-water accumulation under defined rainfall conditions. The modelling was based on a high-resolution 1 m LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Model and included the identification of terrain depressions, their contributing catchment areas, surface flow paths, and spill points determining the potential propagation of accumulated water. Two rainfall scenarios were considered: a 15-minute rainfall event with a 20% exceedance probability and the maximum observed daily rainfall. Infiltration losses were estimated using the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method, incorporating detailed land-cover information. The resulting spatial layers describe the potential extent and depth of water accumulation within individual terrain depressions. The dataset represents scenario-based urban flood susceptibility rather than the reconstruction or prediction of a specific historical flood event. The modelling does not incorporate the existing stormwater drainage network and should therefore be interpreted as a conservative stress-test condition, approximating situations in which the drainage system is overwhelmed or blocked. The data can support analyses of urban flood exposure, infrastructure vulnerability, transport disruption, and spatial planning for urban resilience.