Dra. Bull-Torres, Maria

This article proposes a vulnerability assessment model for evaluating buildings’ expected seismic performance, as well as their vulnerability to tsunamis. The objective of this assessment is to provide appropriate information for decision makers regarding the need of repairs and reinforcement of buildings or other mitigation measures that need to be applied in a territory. A procedure for assessing seismic vulnerability and another methodology for evaluating tsunami vulnerability faced by coastal structures is presented. Finally, a method that integrates both procedures is proposed, providing a combined index of vulnerability. The assessment model was applied to the central area of the city of Talcahuano, Chile, which was affected by the 2010 Maule earthquake and tsunami.

The pandemic has challenged countries to develop stringent measures to reduce infections and keep the population healthy. However, the greatest challenge is understanding the process of adopting self-care measures by individuals in different countries. In this research, we sought to understand the behavior of individuals who take self-protective action. We selected the risk homeostasis approach to identify relevant variables associated with the risk of contagion and the Protective Action Decision Model to understand protective decision-making in the pandemic. Subsequently, we conducted an exploratory survey to identify whether the same factors, as indicated in the literature, impact Chile’s adoption of prevention measures. The variables gender, age, and trust in authority behave similarly to those found in the literature. However, socioeconomic level, education, and media do not impact the protection behaviors adopted to avoid contagion. Furthermore, the application of the Protective Action Decision Model is adequate to understand the protective measures in the case of a pandemic. Finally, women have a higher risk perception and adopt more protective measures, and in contrast, young people between 18 and 30 years of age are the least concerned about COVID-19 infection.

Research on evacuation behavior in natural disasters provides a valuable contribution in the development of effective short- and long-term strategies in disaster risk management (DRM). Many studies address evacuation simulation utilizing mathematical modeling approaches or GIS-based simulation. In this contribution, we perform a detailed analysis of an entire evacuation process from the decision to evacuate right up to the arrival at a safe zone. We apply a progressive research design in the community of Talcahuano, Chile by means of linking a social science approach, deploying standardized questionnaires for the tsunami affected population, and a GISbased simulation. The questionnaire analyzes evacuation behavior in both an event-based historical scenario and a hypothetical future scenario. Results reveal three critical issues: evacuation time, distance to the evacuation zone, and method of transportation. In particular, the excessive use of cars has resulted in congestion of street sections in past evacuations, and will most probably also pose a problem in a future evacuation event. As evacuation by foot is generally recommended by DRM, the results are extended by a GIS-based modelling simulating evacuation by foot. Combining the findings of both approaches allows for added value, providing more comprehensive insights into evacuation planning. Future research may take advantage of this multiperspective research design, and integrate social science findings in a more detailed manner. Making use of invaluable local knowledge and past experience of the affected population in evacuation planning is likely to help decrease the magnitude of a disaster, and, ultimately, save lives.

On May 31st, 2019, a tornado hit the city of Talcahuano, Chile, generating significant damage to structures and leaving one person dead. The objective of the present paper is to report on damage to structures in Talcahuano. A preliminary survey was performed by the Municipality of Talcahuano and covered the entire affected area with a cellphone web application used to report the severity and distribution of damage. A more comprehensive damage survey was conducted in the Brisa del Sol neighborhood in the Medio Camino area by the UCSC team to assess the damage distribution within an area with well-defined and homogeneous building typologies. The results of the field surveys showed that the tornado behaved as a skipping tornado and that most damage to houses consisted of wall opening damage, roof sheathing failure, and wall cover removal (EF0), followed by partial roof removal(EF1). It was noticeable that self-built systems (house additions) were more damaged than original houses, which may be explained by the fact that such structures do not always meet minimum building standards. It is recommended that field surveys conducted by municipalities and the Ministry of Social Development considertypical damage types rather than just categories such as minor, moderate, or major. Finally, it is recommendedthat the feasibility of implementing mitigation measures such as stricter wind load provisions and dual-objective tornado design philosophy in the Concepci´on-Talcahuano area be analyzed.

La investigación, tiene entre sus objetivos, describir cómo se expresan las capacidades de afrontamiento de la resiliencia comunitaria en relación al sentido de comunidad en trece familias de la comuna de Talcahuano-Chile, durante el periodo de respuesta y recuperación al desastre del terremoto y tsunami del año 2010. Se optó por un diseño exploratorio cualitativo de carácter transversal bajo una lógica de observación ex-post. A los casos de estudio se les aplica una entrevista semi-estructurada, cuyos discursos son examinados utilizando el Análisis Estructural de Contenido y el Modelo Actancial de la Semántica Estructural. Se concluye que la resiliencia comunitaria es un proceso que emerge en vinculación con el sentido de comunidad, expresado en el compromiso por el bienestar de la comunidad del lugar y en la participación comunitaria en acciones colectivas. Estas son condicionantes sociales que facilitan o limitan la adaptación organizativa de la comunidad y el surgimiento de comportamientos colaborativos, en función de resolver los problemas con mayor rapidez y con el mejor desempeño en el uso de los recursos del territorio. 

Este trabajo propone una metodología para implementar la primera fase del modelo de gestión del cambio organizacional de Lewin, denominada descongelamiento. Inicialmente, las tipologías individuales y organizaciones presentes en la compañía son determinadas a través de una encuesta a los colaboradores. Posteriormente, se aplica el método multicriterio Elimination et Choix Traduisant la Réalité (ELECTRE) para identificar el conjunto de factores mínimos a modificar para implantar en forma exitosa un proyecto de cambio. Esta propuesta permite focalizar los esfuerzos de los gestores de cambio, haciéndolos más efectivos para desarrollar planes de acción para el descongelamiento de prejuicios. Las tipologías prioritarias determinadas para el caso de análisis son el ignorante y el desganado para la dimensión individual, y las clases estática y rutinaria para la dimensión organizacional.

Este trabajo presenta una experiencia de educación en ingeniería orientada a la prevención de desastres, a través de la revisión y adecuación de los planes integrales de seguridad escolar en tres establecimientos educacionales de la comuna de Talcahuano, Chile, a solicitud del Departamento de Educación Municipal. La experiencia se desarrolló en el contexto del curso Desastres naturales y cultura de la prevención de las carreras de Ingeniería Civil e Ingeniería Civil Geológica de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, mediante la aplicación de la metodología aprendizaje servicio. El objetivo de la experiencia es que los estudiantes del curso y la comunidad escolar estudiada reconozcan de manera eficaz los riesgos generados por el entorno natural, describan las etapas asociadas a gestión de desastres y colaboren en la generación de una cultura de prevención y preparación frente a ellos. Los resultados obtenidos corresponden a la entrega de planes integrales de seguridad escolar adecuados a los establecimientos estudiados con un diagnóstico de vulnerabilidades y mapa s de riesgo. La experiencia de aprendizaje servicio desarrollada muestra el fomento del compromiso social en los estudiantes y la importancia del aprendizaje orientado a resolver necesidades reales, con una visión integral en su formación profesional.