State-of-the-art review on stability and serviceability of dikes as a flood infrastructure and their comprehensive assessment in Indus Plain considering global climate change

In the wake of escalating climate change impacts, Pakistan’s flood defense infrastructure, which is mainly comprised of dike systems, is now facing unprecedented problems. This article explores the many intricate aspects of dike resilience in the context of heightened flood risk intensified by global warming. The study provides a comprehensive insight into the current state of dike structures in Pakistan by carefully integrating the real-time data from site visits that includes comprehensive field and laboratory testing, detailed case studies, and substantial literature evaluation. This study does a thorough analysis of how unusual weather patterns impact the occurrence of floods, classifies floods based on return periods, and illuminates the role of dikes in territorial safeguarding. The geotechnical assessment of specific dikes offers valuable information about their condition and performance, while the contemporary cross-sections give a glimpse into their design effectiveness. Examining instances of dike collapses via case studies reveals the underlying weaknesses and thresholds in the light of the limit state as defined by the Euro Code, hence shaping the discourse on possible corrective measures. Further, this study highlights the potential applications of secondary materials and promotes the implementation of sustainable flood protection structures as additional aspects of dike management and flood mitigation. The synthesis of research results provides a bench mark and establishes a foundation for a proactive approach to flood prevention, emphasizing the need for durable, flexible, and robust flood control systems to defend against the imminent danger of climate-driven hydrological extremes.