Coastal Quakes - Vulnerability to Seismic Hazards in Coastal and Riverside Communities: Lessons from the Canterbury Earthquake sequence
"Coastal Quakes - Vulnerability to Seismic Hazards in Coastal and Riverside Environments: Lessons from the Canterbury Earthquake sequence" is an ongoing research project led by Dr Deirdre Hart from the Department of Geography at the University of Canterbury. Others involved with aspects of the research include Marney Brosnan and Dr Christopher Gomez from UC’s Department of Geography, Dr Sonia Giovinazzi from UC’s Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, and UC students Emma Kelland, Nick Brunsden, Su Young Ko and David Holland. The aim of this project is to understand the vulnerabilities to seismic hazards that coastal and riverside communities face, by examining the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes and the recovery patterns in Christchurch. The project focuses on two main aspects: the predisposition to earthquake induced damage that exists in coastal and river environments past and present, and (ii) the cascade of 'non-seismic' hazards that have been altered by the earthquakes, including coastal, estuary and river flooding, sea level rise, tsunami, coastal erosion, and pollution. Information and data was gathered, such as professional opinions through interviews, photographic evidence of coastal and riverside effects, and the mapping of liquefaction and residential zoning from government agencies.