New Zealand and Japan collaborate on smart disaster resilience
The New Zealand Government is investing in research and technology partnerships that will significantly enhance the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. Dr Shane Reti, Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology, announced that three research teams from New Zealand have been granted funding to collaborate with leading Japanese research organisations on projects designed to boost New Zealand’s resilience when disasters strike.
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The collaborative research will provide New Zealand researchers with access to valuable resources and expertise from Japan. For example, Japanese institutions will offer access to cutting-edge tools such as the Marine Seismic Vessel Research Vessel Kaimei, proprietary modelling software, and structural laboratories. These resources will greatly enhance New Zealand’s ability to conduct high-level research into natural disaster risks and mitigation techniques.
Several New Zealand teams will lead specific research projects, each focusing on different aspects of disaster resilience. The University of Canterbury will collaborate with Tohoku University in Japan to develop a new modular infill system for retrofitting buildings to withstand seismic events. This system aims to improve the resilience of buildings during earthquakes while reducing the costs associated with traditional retrofitting methods.
GNS Science, one of New Zealand’s leading research institutions, will work with Japan’s National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) to study the tolerable levels of ashfall following volcanic eruptions. This research is critical for New Zealand, where volcanic hazards pose a substantial risk to communities. In addition, GNS Science will collaborate with the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) to conduct a seismic study of the Hikurangi subduction zone, which is New Zealand’s largest tsunami risk area.
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