Earthquake Commission

About: Earthquake Commission is a government organization based out in Wellington, New Zealand. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Hazard & Public policy. The organization has 6 authors who have published 9 publications receiving 190 citations. The organization is also known as: New Zealand Earthquake Commission & EQC.

Assessment of Liquefaction-Induced Land Damage for Residential Christchurch

Abstract: Christchurch, New Zealand, experienced four major earthquakes (Mw 5.9 to 7.1) since 4 September 2010 that triggered localized to widespread liquefaction. Liquefaction caused significant damage to r...

Communicating model uncertainty for natural hazards: A qualitative systematic thematic review

Abstract: Natural hazard models are vital for all phases of risk assessment and disaster management. However, the high number of uncertainties inherent to these models is highly challenging for crisis communication. The non-communication of these is problematic as interdependencies between them, especially for multi-model approaches and cascading hazards, can result in much larger deep uncertainties. The recent upsurge in research into uncertainty communication makes it important to identify key lessons, areas for future development, and areas for future research. We present a systematic thematic literature review to identify methods for effective communication of model uncertainty. Themes identified include a) the need for clear uncertainty typologies, b) the need for effective engagement with users to identify which uncertainties to focus on, c) managing ensembles, confidence, bias, consensus and dissensus, d) methods for communicating specific uncertainties (e.g., maps, graphs, and time), and e) the lack of evaluation of many approaches currently in use. Finally, we identify lessons and areas for future investigation, and propose a framework to manage the communication of model related uncertainty with decision-makers, by integrating typology components that help identify and prioritise uncertainties. We conclude that scientists must first understand decision-maker needs, and then concentrate efforts on evaluating and communicating the decision-relevant uncertainties. Developing a shared uncertainty management scheme with users facilitates the management of different epistemological perspectives, accommodates the different values that underpin model assumptions and the judgements they prompt, and increases uncertainty tolerance. This is vital, as uncertainties will only increase as our model (and event) complexities increase.

Role of Boundary Organization after a Disaster: New Zealand’s Natural Hazards Research Platform and the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence

Abstract: The boundary organization concept has been used to establish that collaborative arrangements and outputs across science and policy domain boundaries need to be credible, relevant, and legitimate in order to be to be effective. Although widely accepted in other issue-driven fields, this concept does not have equivalent currency in the natural hazard and disaster risk reduction context. This paper uses the development of the New Zealand Natural Hazards Research Platform during a recent earthquake disaster to assess the utility of the concept in this topic area. Lessons are also identified concerning the use of larger consortium organizations to increase policy and other end-user involvement in the management and coordination of research funding, and the impact of a major disaster on this research-funding initiative. Mapping the Platform’s collaborative arrangements in relation to boundary tensions over time makes it possible to distinguish disaster effects from preexisting and ongoing structural eff...

Research Engagement after Disasters: Research Coordination before, during, and after the 2011–2012 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence, New Zealand

Abstract: This article argues that active coordination of research engagement after disasters has the potential to maximize research opportunities, improve research quality, increase end-user engagement, and...

Tephrochronology in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract: Tephra deposits in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) have been studied for >180 years. The now-global discipline of tephrochronology, which has some developmental roots in ANZ, forms the basis of a powerf...