Environmental Adaptation Tools as an Approach to Meet Challenges in Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Urban areas are facing the risk of climate change due to high temperatures, floods, storms, droughts, and the expected rise in sea levels, as a result of the rapid growth in urban and industrial activities. Cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are primarily exposed to the effects of high heat and floods after rare events of heavy rainfall. This requires the search for sustainable and appropriate planning solutions to adapt to climate change within the framework of sustainable urban planning. Urban planning can play a significant role in addressing climate change through sustainable adaptation. Therefore, the research aims to study and identify appropriate environmental tools and planning approaches that can be integrated into the urban planning methodology to adapt to climate change in urban areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some case studies of urban areas exposed to the risk of climate change were studied and analyzed to evaluate the planning tools and approaches adopted to confront these risks. five cases were studied. The challenges and positives of these tools and approaches were deduced. The appropriate planning approach has been selected for the privacy of Saudi cities to face the effects of climate change. The research concluded that sponge cities are the appropriate approach for Saudi cities to face the risks of floods. The suitability of the sponge cities was assessed in comparison with the case of floods in Jeddah city, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research also reached steps to integrate the requirements of converting to spongy cities in the urban planning methodology at the different planning levels


Introduction
There are many approaches and policies to minimizing the effects and risks of climate change such as adaptation, mitigation, resilience, preparedness, risk assessment, and vulnerability [1].Adaptation refers to avoiding and mitigating damages and exploiting opportunities to confront them [2].Mitigation also refers to taking measures to minimize the size of the effects of climate change and reduce the speed of their occurrence in the future by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere [3].Resilience refers to assessing the ability of urban, environmental, social, and economic systems to withstand and deal with climate risks or the extent of their response to those risks [2].Preparedness aims to prepare the necessary plans and procedures to build the necessary capacities for prevention and protection from negative impacts [3].Risk assessment aims to assess the probability of an event occurring and the damages that may result if it occurs [3].Vulnerability assessment indicates readiness for harm, and lack of adaptive capacity [2].
The negative effects of climate change on cities and urban areas are floods, temperature rise, sea level rise, storms, wildfires, and drought [4].More than 55% of the world's population lives in cities and this is expected to increase to 68% in 2050 [5].Through the application of sustainable urban planning policies and tools, it can reduce the exposure of urban areas to climate hazards in the long term.These tools benefit urban and environmental planners and climate adaptation specialists in applying the best sustainable practices during the preparation of urban plans at their various levels.
Adaptation tools and plans can be spatial plans that are clear and specific and specify where actions are to occur, or non-spatial plans that describe the strategies to be implemented within the planning area in general [6].
The environmental tools used to deal with climate change vary between Visual tools, modeling tools, and decision support tools.Visual tools help stakeholders visualize the potential consequences of various management decisions, and those tools do not have the ability to conduct specialized analyses.Modeling tools simulate current and potential future conditions for environmental, natural, social, economic and geophysical processes.These are the most technically challenging tools and often require GIS programs and appropriate hardware.Decision support tools help in developing scenarios of future conditions resulting from potential climate change impacts [6].
Saudi cities are mainly vulnerable to the effects of high heat and flooding after rare events of heavy rainfall.Temperatures in Saudi cities are increasing, and this is due to the transformation of urban forms.[7].As shown in figure 1.Source: [7] There are some previous researches that used tools to deal with the risks of climate change, especially floods, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) tools, in producing a flood exposure map and classifying the degrees of severity.There is recent research that used the integration of (GIS) and (RS) with a multi-criteria decision-making method through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for important urban flood factors in Alexandria City, Egypt.The research reached the production of a map of areas vulnerable to floods, classified into three degrees, high, medium and low.The aim of this map is to assist decision makers in developing plans to confront and mitigate floods [8].
Another study used GIS & RS to identify areas prone to flooding in in Bangladesh.The study found that more than 50% of the area was prone to flooding.This study presents new solutions for the competent authorities to plan and design control measures and confront floods [9].There is also another study that discussed identifying the population exposed to flooding, using the social vulnerability index in the United States of America, and it was found that the vulnerable social group is the most vulnerable to flood risks [10].Another research in China focused on urbanization and land-use change factors led to an increase the possibility of exposure to floods [11].

Research questions
Current and future climate risks negatively affect urban areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which requires adopting sustainable planning approaches for climate adaptation within the framework of sustainable urban planning.Therefore, the research poses a main question as follows: • What are the appropriate environmental tools that can be integrated into the sustainable urban planning methodology for climate adaptation in the cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

Method
The research has studied and analyzed Five case studies of urban areas exposed to the risk of climate change (as shown in table 1) in terms of : -The type of climate risks that each case study focused on or is affected by -The tool or approach that was used to face these risks -The main procedures that were implemented for each tool or approach.
The following is a definition of the environmental tools used in the case studies: Coastal flood risk assessments (CFRAs), It is a method for determining flood risks in terms of probability and consequences as a first stage for making the right decision to confront those risks and planning and designing the necessary infrastructure, and study available solutions to reduce negative impacts [12].
Coastal Management Line (CML) ,It is based on achieving economic development for coastal communities within the framework of reducing coastal risks and preserving ecosystems [13].
Climate Resiliency ,it aims to transform climate risk predictions into technical guidelines used by specialists (engineers and architects) for climate adaptation during the design of various projects such as buildings, roads, sewage systems, etc. [14].
CLAD -Coastal Climate Adaptation and Development Tool, it depends on providing the necessary databases for sustainable adaptation to climate change in coastal areas in Ireland, in addition to developing mechanisms for stakeholder participation.The project duration was 3 years.[15].

3
Sponge cities is an approach to controlling rainfall and surface water flooding based on the combination of natural and gray infrastructure.[16].sidewalks and buildings) There may be other tools and approaches that were not addressed in the research, but the research focused on some of the available tools that were actually used in cities so that they can be evaluated through their results and the procedures for their use.

Analyzing the environmental tools and planning approaches
By analyzing the environmental tools and planning approaches used in 5 previous case studies, the research concluded the challenges and positives for each tool and approach, as shown in Table 2. Despite the importance of the approach of Coastal Flood Risk Assessment to face the effects of climatic changes, however, according to the report of the classification and arrangement of cities most exposed to coastal floods, there are no Saudi cities among the cities most exposed to the risk of coastal floods [18].However, this approach can be used in some Saudi coastal cities that may be affected by sea level rise, such as (Dammam, Jubail, Khafji, and Ras Tanura on the eastern coast, and in western Jeddah, Jizan, Rabigh, and Yanbu) [19].
This also corresponds with the approach of the coastal management line related to coastal floods, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making efforts to protect the coast lines.
As for the climate resilience approach in New York City, it was an indicative, directive, and nonmandatory entry, and therefore it is difficult to evaluate it unless it is applied clearly and completely.
Ireland's Coastal Climate Adaptation and Development Tool works at the national and regional level and is important for providing information and supporting decision-making at higher levels of planning, but it may not be a direct spatial tool useful in spatial planning for urban planning

Appropriate planning approach for Saudi cities to adapt to the effects of climate change
The research concluded that the spongy cities are the appropriate environmental entrance to the state and privacy of Saudi cities to face the effects of climate change, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suffers in the recent period from the problems of rain floods and extreme heat.Sponge cities are also specialized in reducing and absorbing the risks of floods and heavy rains based on directing the optimal sustainable use of natural features such as vegetation, Green areas, lakes and parks.[20].
By analyzing the concept of the "sponge city", it was found that it is a mixture of solutions derived from nature and infrastructure, to retain runoff water in urban areas for later reuse, and this effectively contributes to facing flood risks and high temperatures in Saudi cities.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by the diversity of the environmental and natural elements such as vegetation, water valleys and environmental parks, which can be exploited and adapted by urban planning and design practices to turn into a natural infrastructure and be the basis for the transformation into squishy cities. Sponge cities can contribute to the conversion of Saudi cities into cities that are able to withstand climatic changes, especially the risks of floods and heavy rains, and reduce the effect of urban heat islands by absorbing, capturing, and using rainwater to reduce floods.
Sponge cities are characterized by their ability to absorb and assimilate water, store it and release it gradually, mitigate the effects of drought, and reduce the temperature.It also addresses the destruction of natural water drainage systems by urban sprawl and the inadequacy of dams.Sponge cities can also handle a sea level rise of one or two meters [21].

The conversion to spongy cities is based on a set of basic principles, namely based on nature, source control, local adaptation, nature protection, and comprehensive treatment
Based on nature, where the design of the sponge city relies on simulating natural systems and processes such as the water cycle Source control, the sponge city design should prioritize storm water management at the source, for example through the use of green roofs, permeable sidewalks and rain gardens to control the amount of surface runoff that is discharged to the drainage network Local adaptation, where the sponge city is designed taking into account factors such as topography, climate, seasons, meteorological history, geology and existing infrastructure.
Protecting Nature, the Sponge City also aims to protect and enhance natural habitats and biodiversity, and must avoid damaging or destroying natural systems.
Comprehensive treatment, where the design of the sponge city is based on a comprehensive approach to water management in terms of capture, collection, storage, treatment and reuse [22].
The most common elements of the implementation of the sponge cities are porous surfaces and creating ponds.Porous surfaces refer to surfaces that allow water to infiltrate into the ground, such as permeable pavements, green roofs, and porous concrete [23].Creating ponds involves constructing small ponds or detention basins to capture and hold excess stormwater during heavy rainfall events [24].
Implementing an effective strategy for the sponge city requires large investments, especially when re-planning the current urban areas in line with the requirements of sponge cities related to the rehabilitation of natural infrastructure.But by comparing the costs required to repair the losses caused by the rain floods, it is likely that the investment in the transformation to sponge cities will be the effective solution.The vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030 and its current national initiatives include the implementation of projects and plans to develop natural parks, rehabilitate water valleys, reforestation and rehabilitate vegetation cover.In the event that these projects are integrated with urban planning plans, this will contribute to accelerating the conversion to sponge cities.

Evaluation of the suitability of sponge cities to deal with floods in Jeddah city, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jeddah city was chosen to evaluate the result of the research (the approach to sponge cities is the appropriate planning entrance for Saudi cities).This is done by evaluating the suitability of applying sponge cities in the city of Jeddah to confront floods, because in 2009 and 2011, sudden floods in Jeddah were recorded as the worst in the Kingdom in 30 years [19], and the Jeddah city is one of the most vulnerable Saudi cities to the risks of rain and floods, as shown in Figure 6.
At the level of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the average annual rainfall is about 109 mm, as shown in Figure 7, heavy rainfall occurs in the southern region.In general, the city of Jeddah has a scarcity of precipitation with great fluctuations.In March and April, rainstorms occur.The average annual precipitation is 52.5 mm/year.The maximum rainfall reached about 284 mm/year in 1996.Recently, rainstorms have increased, causing severe flooding within the city of Jeddah [25].
By reviewing the reasons that made Jeddah city severely affected by floods, which are represented in the increase in impermeable urban surfaces that do not absorb water, insufficient sanitation systems, and the increase in construction in low areas and valleys, it was found that avoiding these reasons is the basis for the criteria and requirements for the transition to sponge cities (especially the strengthening of green infrastructure and its integration with gray infrastructure).The conversion into spongy cities in the city of Jeddah will contribute effectively to facing the risks of floods, absorbing them, and enhancing their resilience.

Steps to integrate the conversion into sponge cities into the urban planning process
The technical stages of preparing plans for urban areas should include a set of requirements for transforming into sponge cities at different planning levels.At the land use planning level, green and gray infrastructure are integrated to achieve and build full resilience to climate change.
At the level of urban design and landscaping, a plan is prepared to rehabilitate and develop the natural infrastructure to convert to functional use, as it includes natural features such as environmental parks, green spaces, lakes, urban gardens, and wetlands.
At the level of planning water systems and designing roads, which include pipes and sewage systems, and they are reinforced in accordance with estimates of heavy rain water and meteorological history, and not only according to development needs.
At the level of detailed control planning, a rainwater storage plan is prepared to direct and reduce surface runoff in integration with green infrastructure elements.1283 (2024) 012003 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1283/1/01200310

Conclusions and recommendations
Sponge cities are an appropriate approach for cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to face climate changes, as they are a new urban construction model for managing floods, strengthening natural infrastructure, and drainage systems.It is a successful model to varying degrees according to the privacy of each site, so the research is recommended as follows: • Preparing a guide for standards and requirements for the transition to spongy cities, in a way that suits the specificity of Saudi cities • Integration of the concept of sponge cities in the urban and development plans of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia • Exploiting the current initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia related to afforestation and green Saudi initiatives, developing environmental parks and rehabilitating water valleys, and linking them to urban development plans for cities to form integrated visions for the transformation into sponge cities. • Coordination between the relevant concerned authorities to rehabilitate the natural infrastructure (water valleys, environmental parks, and vegetation cover) and integrate them into urban development plans to transform into sponge cities. • Conducting a current assessment of the natural infrastructure in cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and identifying their needs to transform them into spongy cities • Preparing a national urban plan to transform into spongy cities in three phases as follows: o Short term: capacity building for the concept of sponge cities, and promoting urban pilot projects for small cities that are at risk of floods o Medium term: Promoting urban pilot projects for medium-sized cities at risk of floods o long term: integration of the concept of the sponge city in urban development, planning, and the orientation towards large cities that are at risk of floods.• Developing the outputs of urban plans at its various levels (structural, strategic and local) by including the natural and gray infrastructure that qualifies for transformation into spongy cities such as green spaces and interconnected waterways, building roads with porous surface materials, and drainage systems that allow water to flow into the ground or that direct rainwater runoff to green spaces for natural absorption • Deepening the outputs of environmental and natural studies so that one of its main outputs is a spatial map of the natural infrastructure so that it serves as a base map for urban planners to plan and design the spongy city

2 Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Mean temperature and precipitation in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaSource:[7] There are some previous researches that used tools to deal with the risks of climate change, especially floods, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) tools, in producing a flood exposure map and classifying the degrees of severity.There is recent research that used the integration of (GIS) and (RS) with a multi-criteria decision-making method through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for important urban flood factors in Alexandria City, Egypt.The research reached the production of a map of areas vulnerable to floods, classified into three degrees, high, medium and low.The aim of this map is to assist decision makers in developing plans to confront and mitigate floods[8].Another study used GIS & RS to identify areas prone to flooding in in Bangladesh.The study found that more than 50% of the area was prone to flooding.This study presents new solutions for the competent authorities to plan and design control measures and confront floods[9].There is also another study that discussed identifying the population exposed to flooding, using the social vulnerability index in the United States of America, and it was found that the vulnerable social group is the most vulnerable to flood risks[10].Another research in China focused on urbanization and land-use change factors led to an increase the possibility of exposure to floods[11].

Figure 4 : 6 Figure 5 :
Figure 4: The city of Ningbo and the sites of projectsto convert into the city of sponge Source:[16]

Figure 8 :
Figure 8: Steps to integrate the conversion into sponge cities into the urban planning process Source: the researcher At the level of strategic planning, an urban land management plan is prepared to confront floods and support the achievement of the goals of protecting water resources.At the land use planning level, green and gray infrastructure are integrated to achieve and build full resilience to climate change.At the level of urban design and landscaping, a plan is prepared to rehabilitate and develop the natural infrastructure to convert to functional use, as it includes natural features such as environmental parks, green spaces, lakes, urban gardens, and wetlands.At the level of planning water systems and designing roads, which include pipes and sewage systems, and they are reinforced in accordance with estimates of heavy rain water and meteorological history, and not only according to development needs.At the level of detailed control planning, a rainwater storage plan is prepared to direct and reduce surface runoff in integration with green infrastructure elements.

Table 1 .
Description of case studies in terms of tools, approaches and procedures used

Table 2 .
Evaluation of planning environmental tools and approaches in terms of challenges and positivesThe approach / tool used