Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-5339-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-5339-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Indirect costs of floods: a case study of highways road users
Manuel Contreras-Jara
Department of Construction, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Disaster Risk, Resilience and Recovery (CIGIDEN R+)/ANID/CIN250023, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Disaster Risk, Resilience and Recovery (CIGIDEN R+)/ANID/CIN250023, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, 4070386, Chile
Eduardo Allen
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
Alondra Chamorro
Department of Construction, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Disaster Risk, Resilience and Recovery (CIGIDEN R+)/ANID/CIN250023, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
José Vargas-Baecheler
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, 4070386, Chile
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Proc. IAHS, 385, 189–196, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-385-189-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-385-189-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Automated morphological characterization of river systems using the South Rivers Toolbox provides valuable information on river behavior, helps quantify fluvial changes, improves model accuracy, and contributes to the management and restoration of river systems. It also provides a conceptual and working framework for understanding the complexity of the fluvial continuum, in addition to its usefulness as an important support tool for other important issues, such as flood risk assessment.
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Short summary
Floods disrupt roads and bridges, causing delays, higher travel costs and expensive repairs. However, user costs from slower traffic and detours are often ignored. This study integrates flood models, bridge vulnerability, and traffic analysis to estimate these costs. Applied to Chile's Aconcagua Bajo watershed, it considers floods of varying frequencies, road and bridge failures, travel times, and fuel expenses, highlighting the hidden economic burden of flood events.
Floods disrupt roads and bridges, causing delays, higher travel costs and expensive repairs....
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