Use of risk models for evaluation of risk reduction measures for dams

Risk analysis is a useful tool for decision making due to its capacity to integrate all information regarding the safety of a dam or any other critical infrastructure. In this paper, a software for risk analysis developed by the authors is reviewed and several applications of the software to evaluate risk reduction measures are presented. Applications include a portfolio risk assessment and evaluation of several risk reduction measures. It is shown how risk reduction measures associated to human and organizational factors are as easy to evaluate as structural measures and can be compared homogeneously. Flood risk in urban areas and risk analysis of other critical infrastructures are discussed.