Abstract

Many coastal cities are dealing today with different problematics due to climate change. In the case of Villa del Mar, there is an increase in strong swell, making this a high visibility problematic zone. This work analyses the effects of recurrent and strong waves in urbanized coastal lands highly visited by tourists (Avenida Pert, Poblacion Vergara, Vina del Mar), and the perception of security of inhabitants and tourists. By historical wave data analysis, a significant event survey, and a safety perception survey, this work high-lights the negative impact of these events over the urban infrastructure located next to the coastal line, including urban furniture, residences, hotels, cars and stores in the last decades. A negative safety perception on infrastructure and coastal defenses performance was found, as well as a strong need to adapt the infrastructure to reduce vulnerability. The analyzed infrastructure has not been adapted to the risk of floods. This situation warns of the obsolescence of predominant typologies, which are constantly affected either in winter or summer times. Some solutions as the incorporation of new flood-adapted building typologies, relocate critical infrastructure and services, incorporate soft coastal defenses solutions, together with a reinforcement of codes, are discussed in order to reduce the effects of future extreme wind wave events.