Infrastructure maintenance and monitoring efforts in Chile and Ecuador

In Chillán, Chile, the Municipal Works Directorate has begun road repair and pothole patching following severe damage caused by heavy winter rains and increased vehicle traffic. The municipality is prioritizing routes used by public transportation and areas with the highest surface wear, such as the intersection of Sargento Aldea and Avenida Ecuador. Repairs were delayed until recent weather stability allowed for work to proceed.

In Santa Elena, Ecuador, researchers from the State University of Península de Santa Elena conducted a study using drone-based photogrammetry to detect road deterioration. By analyzing nearly 2 kilometers of urban roads, the study identified various types of damage, including longitudinal cracks, crocodile skin cracking, and potholes. The findings revealed that 55.56% of the analyzed road sections showed medium severity of damage, while 33.33% exhibited high severity.