New Zealand’s earthquake insurer EQC Toka Tu Ake has showcased innovative technologies that could help predict and prepare for natural hazards.

Its Tech Week program featured the work of University of Auckland scientists who have used satellite imaging of land slippage to determine potential warning signs for future landslides. 

The work, funded by the EQC’s biennial grant, maps the Earth’s surface to the millimetre, allowing researchers to compare and gather insights on the causes of ground slippage. 

“Interferometric synthetic aperture radar can give us a much better understanding of landslide hazards at a street or even individual land parcel level, without stepping foot on the ground,” the university’s Associate Professor Martin Brook said. 

“A better understanding of landslides can help us constrain the hazard and define risk more accurately.” 

The program also promoted Victoria University geophysics lecturer Dr Calum Chamberlain, who is using sensors and artificial intelligence pattern recognition to revisit historical quake data and detect previously unknown microearthquakes. 

He says the technology paints “a more complete picture of where and how frequently earthquakes occur across New Zealand”.

The event also previewed a new open-source virtual reality model to help prepare for flood risks. Researchers say the technology could be used to simulate flood scenarios and help improve understanding of potential threats. 

EQC head of research Dr Natalie Balfour says Tech Week highlights the critical work being funded by the government agency. 

“Our country’s scientists are world leaders in natural hazards research, thanks in part to our country’s standing as one of the riskiest places on Earth,” she said.