The study of water management system in ancient towns: a case study of Ayutthaya

Abstract

Due to catastrophic flood in 2011 the Historic City of Ayutthaya was severely damaged while it was never negatively impacted by flood in its 417-year-history. In fact, the lower central plain of Thailand where Ayutthaya is located is vulnerable from water -related hazards, especially flood regarding its natural settings. This research initially aims to understand what the water management system of Ayutthaya was and how the city was emerged and evolved within the flooding prone area so as to apply the knowledge to present-day circumstances. As a result, the landscape integration approach is developed by using multidisciplinary perspectives since water management system of Ayutthaya or other old towns needs the knowledge from various subjects. The methodology resulting from this approach comes across water development cycle that occurred at any settlements particularly in riverine and deltaic areas. Thus, the research adopts this approach and its methodology to Ayutthaya which covers areas beyond Ayutthaya City Island as a case study. Besides clearer understanding the water management system of Ayutthaya, the case study also helps to demonstrate how to apply the landscape integration approach to other towns and cities sharing the same conditions as Ayutthaya.