Abstract

Due to the increase in the intensity of the climatic threats to which Chile is exposed due to climate change (strong rains, alluvial currents, and forest fires, among others), a series of inspection and intervention methods for structures are proposed to study the corresponding vulnerabilities and possible natural hazards. Thus, over the years, development has been done on the standardization of vulnerability and threat sheets for regional disaster risk management (GRDR in Spanish) and its application to different types of structures in Chile, allowing in each pilot plan to progress, step by step, with continuous improvement. From the standardization of handbooks and vulnerability sheets and the automation of the process (algorithms to define weights and to process the information), the GRDR methodology is implemented on bridges, tunnels, roads, and minor structures. This improvement allows the authority (Ministry of Public Works (MOP)) to obtain information for adequate decision-making regarding the budget investments for intervention in routes. This paper provides a review of the case studies of GRDR application in Chile and the improvements in the GRDR method implemented by the MOP and Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV) in the last 6 years, highlighting the aspects that have been improved since the definition of the natural hazard, from qualitative to quantitative procedures. In addition, future lines of research and development of the methodology are presented, and inspection protocols are set.