Investigating how SMEs’ behaviours can enhance resilience to flooding using agent-based modelling and simulation

Abstract

Recent years have seen flooding cause major disruption to UK businesses resulting in significant losses to the economy. Given Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK account for 99.9% of businesses, 60% of the working population and 47% of annual turnover, there exists a need to investigate ways in which this size of business can better prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding thus making them more resilient to these disruptive events. The objective of this research is to enable such an investigation using computer modelling and simulation of a flood event and the actions of SMEs immediately prior to, during and in the short-term aftermath of the event.