A significant increase in the impacts caused by extreme events, of both natural and anthropogenic origin, has been observed in recent decades at a global scale. Chile is no exception to this dynamic. Hazards of various origins and their interactions with socioeconomic, urban, and demographic changes, combined with governance issues have led to a significant risk increase. An accurate assessment of this risk is a significantly complex problem and a holistic approach is required. To address this issue, a multi‐criteria decision model has been designed, using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which includes qualitative and quantitative variables. The model can be adapted to different contexts, generating a comparable metrics (commensurable) for different cities. The three cities analyzed in this study (Iquique, Puerto Montt, and Puerto Varas) show different levels of risks as a result of a synergic and dynamic combination of factors related not only with natural and physical conditions but also particularly with the variables related to social vulnerability and resilience capacity.
Part of the book: Applications and Theory of Analytic Hierarchy Process