Cristóbal Javier Soto Escobar

🎯 Interests

• Analysis of extreme precipitation events in the context of changing climate.
• Application of gridded datasets (e.g., precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration) in hydrological studies.
• Integrated modeling of surface and groundwater systems through coupled hydrological models.

🎓 Education

• 2023
  Diploma in Hydrology and Climate Change Impacts
  Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile — 16 SCT credits

• 2014 – 2020
  Civil Engineer, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
  Graduated with highest honors.
  Thesis: “Construction of High-Resolution Spatial Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves in Central-Southern Chile”

💼 Work Experience

2020 – Present — Consulting Engineer at ICASS Spa

• Involved in hydrological and hydraulic projects with a focus on the water cycle and integrated resource management.

• Development of Strategic Water Resource Management Plans (PEGH) with the Chilean Water Directorate (DGA), including:

  • Maipo Basin – View Report
  • Coastal Basins between Maipo and Rapel – View Report
  • Lluta and Pampa Basins – Link 1, Link 2
  • Quebrada de la Concordia Basin – View Report

• Designed potable water networks and supported rural water supply projects.

• Developed MODFLOW model for Barahona Tailings Dam (Codelco, El Teniente Mine).

• Provided technical advisory services to Minera Los Pelambres on water resource management.

• Currently leading integrated modeling efforts in the Maipo Basin area.

2022 — Research Associate, ANID Project 11190864

• Studied the evolution of precipitation intensities using high-resolution satellite data and non-stationary frequency analysis, under the guidance of Ph.D. Violeta Tolorza.

2020 — Web Developer, Universidad de La Frontera

• Developed chi2.ufro.cl for ANID/UFRO-NSF Project 190018, featuring interactive maps, charts, and data tables.

2020 — Platform Developer, Universidad de Chile

• Updated CAMELS-CL platform (data interface, graphics, Docker deployment for server hosting).

2020 — Research Assistant, Universidad Austral de Chile

• Participated in FONDAP Project 15110009
  Study: Streamflow Response to Native Forest Restoration in Former Eucalyptus Plantations in South-Central Chile” (Lara, A. et al.).
  DOI: 10.1002/hyp.14270

2019 — Intern, Dirección de Obras Hidráulicas

• Assisted in technical inspections of rural potable water (APR) projects in Quintrilpe, Vilcún, and Santa Juana Los Acacios.

2016 – 2017 — Analyst, Southern Andes Volcanological Observatory (SERNAGEOMIN)

• Monitored volcanic activity from Osorno to Hudson volcanoes.

👨‍🏫 Academic Experience

• 2019 – Teaching Assistant, Engineering Project
• 2018 – Teaching Assistant, Reinforced Concrete II
• 2018 – Teaching Assistant, Hydrology
• 2016 – Teaching Assistant, Surveying Elements
• 2016 – Teaching Assistant, Concrete Technologies

🏅 Scholarships

• 2023 – Fulbright-ANID BIO Scholarship – Doctoral studies in the USA starting in 2026
• 2015 – 2019 – Chilean Higher Education Tuition-Free Scholarship
• 2014 – Bicentenario Scholarship

📚 Courses

• 2021 – Integrated Surface and Groundwater Modeling: Approaches and Case Studies Using WEAP-MODFLOW, CEAZA

📰 Conferences & Publications

• Soto-Escobar, C., Zambrano-Bigiarini, M., Tolorza, V., and Garreaud, R.
  Gridded Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves: understanding precipitation extremes in a drying climate,
  EGUsphere [preprint], 2025.
  https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-621

• Zambrano-Bigiarini, M., Soto, C., and Tolorza, V.
  Spatially-distributed Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves for Chile using sub-daily gridded datasets,
  EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 April 2024.
  EGU24-21043
  https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21043

• Soto, C., Tolorza, V., Zambrano, M.
  Duración y Frecuencia de precipitaciones máximas en Chile utilizando productos grillados de precipitación de alta resolución espacial,
  XVI Congreso Geológico Chileno: Nuevos desafíos para un territorio en evolución, Noviembre 2023.
  DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10340229

• Soto, C., Tolorza, V., Zambrano, M.
  Duración y Frecuencia de precipitaciones máximas en Chile utilizando productos grillados de precipitación de alta resolución espacial,
  Simposio Internacional: Clima y Resiliencia en Tiempo de Cambio, Septiembre 2023.
  DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8327125

• Sanzana, P., Vargas, M., Muñoz, M., Soto, C., Gironas, J., and Braud, I.
  Artificial recharge effects in water balance of a peri-urban semi-arid catchment: a case study in an Andean aquifer using WEAP-MODFLOW,
  EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022.
  EGU22-10479
  https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-10479

• Soto, C., Zambrano, M.
  Construcción de curvas Intensidad-Duración-Frecuencia, de alta resolución espacial para la zona Centro-Sur de Chile,
  XXV Congreso Chileno de Ingeniería Hidráulica (SOCHID), 2021.

• Zambrano, M., Soto, C., Baez, O.
  Spatially-distributed IDF curves for Center-Southern Chile using IMERG,
  EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020.
  EGU2020-21091
  https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21091

💻 Technical Skills

• Hydrological and Hydraulic Modeling: HEC-HMS, SWAT+, WEAP, TUWmodel, EPANET, MODFLOW
• Programming & Data Processing: R (tidyverse, terra), Python, Git, LaTeX, Quarto
• Visualization & Web Tools: ShinyApps, Docker, HTML/CSS
• GIS & Remote Sensing: QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine

Notable Web Platforms Developed

• CC Maipo-Rapel
• Quebrada de la Concordia
• Basin Data Repository
• KO-Explorador - National Basins
• Araucanía Information System
• IDF Curves from Thesis

🌍 Languages

• Spanish – Native
• English – Intermediate (B2 Level)

📇 References

PhD. Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini
mauricio.zambrano@ufrontera.cl