More than 250 scientists and engineers gathered last week in Dunedin, New Zealand, to share their specialist knowledge on landslides, liquefaction and other risk factors that could affect buildings during an earthquake or other natural disaster.

The event was organised by the New Zealand Geotechnical Society with backing from the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

EQC Chief Resilience and Research Officer Jo Horrocks says that a good understanding of the ground beneath buildings is essential to ensure New Zealanders are living in strong homes.

“This is why EQC has been keen to come on board as a major sponsor of this year’s New Zealand Geotechnical Society conference Good Grounds for the Future,” Dr Horrocks said.

“The three key things we always want to know are what’s happening in the ground, the type of foundations we put in it, and the structures we build on it.

“Geotechnical engineers and scientists are the experts at knowing what the ground is like, how it will behave under stress like an earthquake, and how it is likely to affect building foundations in it and on it.”