GeoNet provides a real time geological hazard monitoring system in New Zealand comprising a network of geophysical instruments, automated software applications, and expertise to detect, analyse and respond to earthquakes, volcanic activity, large landslides and tsunami. This means providing free access to high quality and timely data and information for emergency management, research, industry use and to the public.
GeoNet also has a Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) network which, in partnership with LINZ, provides the LINZ geospatial positioning service, PostioNZ-RT. While GeoNet is in the unique position of providing a necessary hazard monitoring service, this capital investment is potentially leveraged to stimulate economic growth in a multitude of sectors through the PositioNZ-RT partnership.
GeoNet is sponsored by the New Zealand Government through its agencies: Earthquake Commission (EQC), GNS Science and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
The data collected by GeoNet are derived from seismometers, accelerometers, tsunami gauges and the CGPS network. All data and images are made available for free, and in an open format, through the GeoNet project to facilitate research into hazards and assessment of risk; and to provide precision measurement services to benefit a range of industries and organisations.
Most notable re-use, providing new products, services and knowledge, includes the following:
The GeoNet website content is copyright GNS Science published under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
The open formats and availability of GeoNet data provides a legal risk of liability should it be misused, misunderstood or result in problems from its use. GeoNet manages these risks through providing a liability statement on their website.
They also mitigate any data accuracy, quality or service issues through international strategic reviews of the service every four years. The result of these reviews informs improvements to coverage, services, data access tools and specialist skills and expertise.
The timely accurate supply of data to research, emergency management and engineering communities is difficult to quantify in economic and social terms but it clearly forms an integral part in managing the safety of people, buildings and the land. For example engineers are using strong motion records from stations in Christchurch to understand soil profile data, bridge and building performance, liquefaction potential and performance of stopbanks to inform future risk mitigation.
A specific example of GeoNet data being used as a social service is through the Canterbury Quake Live website setup by Cantabrian, Chris Crowe, not long after the September 2010 earthquake. This website is specifically established as a resource to help inform people in Canterbury about aftershock sequences and locations of quakes. This service is provided for the community by a private individual who takes a raw data feed from GeoNet and displays it in a localised context. It is supported by local businesses and other freely supplied data sources.
Earthquake engineering researchers and students download both the filtered raw acceleration and displacement traces to their computer models of buildings or bridges to see how the structures would respond to particular ground accelerations. This research is used to improve building structures and engineering which ultimately has both economic and social impacts.
GeoNet’s data are used to inform and encourage active participation in government policy development, particularly emergency and risk management. It also enables better-informed planning decisions about future land use or risks associated with current use.
Providing free access to high quality and timely data and information reduces the need for duplication – it is a national, and international, resource. Private industry leverages this service and PositioNZ-RT by augmenting it with data from their own networks, providing additional customer support and expertise to others who need to consume it. For example providing localised GPS information for surveyors, engineers, and construction firms.
This case study was last updated in June 2013.