An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile

Purpose – The prolonged drought in Chile’s Coquimbo region has created a permanent state of emergency, forcing the state to spend millions each year distributing drinking water to rural communities. The purpose of this article is to detail a study focused on optimizing the supply of drinking water t...

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Main Authors: David Gomez-Schwartz, Mauricio Castillo-Vergara, Oscar Contreras González, Cesar Espíndola Arellano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-12-2023-0126/full/pdf
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author David Gomez-Schwartz
Mauricio Castillo-Vergara
Oscar Contreras González
Cesar Espíndola Arellano
author_facet David Gomez-Schwartz
Mauricio Castillo-Vergara
Oscar Contreras González
Cesar Espíndola Arellano
author_sort David Gomez-Schwartz
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – The prolonged drought in Chile’s Coquimbo region has created a permanent state of emergency, forcing the state to spend millions each year distributing drinking water to rural communities. The purpose of this article is to detail a study focused on optimizing the supply of drinking water through trucks in the 15 communes of the region and how the problem was faced in a context of a slowonset disaster. Design/methodology/approach – A geo-referenced census and optimization analysis of the 5.541 households that receive drinking water was conducted to determine the feasibility of removing trucks from the system. To generate a greater reduction in distribution costs, it was suggested to incorporate water distribution infrastructure projects, changing the concept of ‘expenses’ to ‘investment’. Findings – The study was born out of the concern for the increased demand for drinking water from rural areas. The proposed and implemented framework allowed an additional 20% reduction in the initial transportation costs; this confirmed the assumption that the proposed optimization model alone would not offer a robust solution and was complemented and integrated with this type of alternative, forming an “integrated model”. Research limitations/implications – The paper has implications for the resilience of territories affected by climate change. Practical implications – The methodology can be replicated in other areas where similar interactions occur. Social implications – Families impacted by drought can improve their quality of life and reduce distress in the face of the constant emergency. Originality/value – This research aims to contribute knowledge from the perspective of a slow-onset disaster where water resources are scarce. It presents a framework where two disciplines converge, resulting in an “integrated model” that, through its implementation, reduces the costs of resource delivery while simultaneously improving the sanitary conditions of the beneficiary families.
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spelling doaj-art-6a67bfc3dbba476aaa1a23d2e779325d2025-01-29T07:38:36ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management2042-67472042-67552025-01-01151183310.1108/JHLSCM-12-2023-0126An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in ChileDavid Gomez-Schwartz0Mauricio Castillo-Vergara1Oscar Contreras González2Cesar Espíndola Arellano3Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, ChileDepartment of Management and Business, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, ChileUniversidad de Atacama, Copiapo, ChilePurpose – The prolonged drought in Chile’s Coquimbo region has created a permanent state of emergency, forcing the state to spend millions each year distributing drinking water to rural communities. The purpose of this article is to detail a study focused on optimizing the supply of drinking water through trucks in the 15 communes of the region and how the problem was faced in a context of a slowonset disaster. Design/methodology/approach – A geo-referenced census and optimization analysis of the 5.541 households that receive drinking water was conducted to determine the feasibility of removing trucks from the system. To generate a greater reduction in distribution costs, it was suggested to incorporate water distribution infrastructure projects, changing the concept of ‘expenses’ to ‘investment’. Findings – The study was born out of the concern for the increased demand for drinking water from rural areas. The proposed and implemented framework allowed an additional 20% reduction in the initial transportation costs; this confirmed the assumption that the proposed optimization model alone would not offer a robust solution and was complemented and integrated with this type of alternative, forming an “integrated model”. Research limitations/implications – The paper has implications for the resilience of territories affected by climate change. Practical implications – The methodology can be replicated in other areas where similar interactions occur. Social implications – Families impacted by drought can improve their quality of life and reduce distress in the face of the constant emergency. Originality/value – This research aims to contribute knowledge from the perspective of a slow-onset disaster where water resources are scarce. It presents a framework where two disciplines converge, resulting in an “integrated model” that, through its implementation, reduces the costs of resource delivery while simultaneously improving the sanitary conditions of the beneficiary families.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-12-2023-0126/full/pdfSlow-onset disasterDroughtDrinking waterTrucksResilienceHumanitarian logistic
spellingShingle David Gomez-Schwartz
Mauricio Castillo-Vergara
Oscar Contreras González
Cesar Espíndola Arellano
An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Slow-onset disaster
Drought
Drinking water
Trucks
Resilience
Humanitarian logistic
title An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
title_full An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
title_fullStr An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
title_full_unstemmed An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
title_short An integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction: lessons from a slow onset disaster in Chile
title_sort integrated model approach for disaster impact reduction lessons from a slow onset disaster in chile
topic Slow-onset disaster
Drought
Drinking water
Trucks
Resilience
Humanitarian logistic
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-12-2023-0126/full/pdf
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