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Russ Van Dissen
Earthquake Geologist, GNS Science
Born, raised and educated in the western
USA. Moved to New Zealand about 25
years ago to take up a position with the
then Earth Deformation Section of the
New Zealand Geological Survey. Research
specialties include earthquake geology
and seismic hazard assessment.
Significant involvement in the
development of the Ministry for the
Environment’s “Active Fault Guidelines”;
characterisation of the surface fault
rupture along the Greendale Fault during
the September 2010 Darfield earthquake
and its impacts on man-made structures;
and currently leading the “It’s Our Fault”
project that aims to better define earthquake risk in Wellington.
IT’S OUR FAULT: Eight years of improved earthquake hazard and risk estimation
in Wellington
The Wellington region is cut by a number of major right-lateral strike slip faults, and is
underlain by the currently locked west-dipping subduction interface between the down
going Pacific Plate, and the over-riding Australian Plate. In its short historic period (ca.
160 years), the region has been impacted by large earthquakes on the strike-slip faults,
but has yet to bear the brunt of a subduction interface rupture directly beneath the capital
city.
It’s Our Fault is a comprehensive study of Wellington’s earthquake risk. Its objective is to
position the capital region to become more resilient through a comprehensive multi-
disciplinary study of the likelihood of large earthquakes, and the effects and impacts of
these earthquakes on humans and the built environment. It’s Our Fault is jointly funded
by the Earthquake Commission, Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington City
Council, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, Greater Wellington Regional
Council, and Natural Hazards Research Platform.
The programme has been running for eight years, and key results to date include better
definition and constraints on: 1) location, size, timing, and likelihood of large earthquakes
on the active faults closest to Wellington; 2) earthquake ground shaking characterisation
of a representative suite of subduction interface rupture scenarios under Wellington; 3)
stress interactions between these faults; 4) geological, geotechnical, and geophysical
parameterisation of the near-surface sediments and basin geometry in Wellington City
and the Hutt Valley; and 5) characterisation of earthquake ground shaking behaviour in
these two urban areas in terms of, for example, the subsoil classes specified in the New
Zealand Structural Design Standard. Work currently underway and/or planned for the
future includes: a) liquefaction hazard assessment; b) earthquake loss and recovery-time
estimation; and c) social ramifications.
The above investigations are already supporting measures aimed at risk reduction, and
collectively they will facilitate identification of additional actions that, if applied, will have
the greatest benefit towards further increasing the region’s resilience to earthquakes.
Back to Speakers overview
USA. Moved to New Zealand about 25
years ago to take up a position with the
then Earth Deformation Section of the
New Zealand Geological Survey. Research
specialties include earthquake geology
and seismic hazard assessment.
Significant involvement in the
development of the Ministry for the
Environment’s “Active Fault Guidelines”;
characterisation of the surface fault
rupture along the Greendale Fault during
the September 2010 Darfield earthquake
and its impacts on man-made structures;
and currently leading the “It’s Our Fault”
project that aims to better define earthquake risk in Wellington.
IT’S OUR FAULT: Eight years of improved earthquake hazard and risk estimation
in Wellington
The Wellington region is cut by a number of major right-lateral strike slip faults, and is
underlain by the currently locked west-dipping subduction interface between the down
going Pacific Plate, and the over-riding Australian Plate. In its short historic period (ca.
160 years), the region has been impacted by large earthquakes on the strike-slip faults,
but has yet to bear the brunt of a subduction interface rupture directly beneath the capital
city.
It’s Our Fault is a comprehensive study of Wellington’s earthquake risk. Its objective is to
position the capital region to become more resilient through a comprehensive multi-
disciplinary study of the likelihood of large earthquakes, and the effects and impacts of
these earthquakes on humans and the built environment. It’s Our Fault is jointly funded
by the Earthquake Commission, Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington City
Council, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, Greater Wellington Regional
Council, and Natural Hazards Research Platform.
The programme has been running for eight years, and key results to date include better
definition and constraints on: 1) location, size, timing, and likelihood of large earthquakes
on the active faults closest to Wellington; 2) earthquake ground shaking characterisation
of a representative suite of subduction interface rupture scenarios under Wellington; 3)
stress interactions between these faults; 4) geological, geotechnical, and geophysical
parameterisation of the near-surface sediments and basin geometry in Wellington City
and the Hutt Valley; and 5) characterisation of earthquake ground shaking behaviour in
these two urban areas in terms of, for example, the subsoil classes specified in the New
Zealand Structural Design Standard. Work currently underway and/or planned for the
future includes: a) liquefaction hazard assessment; b) earthquake loss and recovery-time
estimation; and c) social ramifications.
The above investigations are already supporting measures aimed at risk reduction, and
collectively they will facilitate identification of additional actions that, if applied, will have
the greatest benefit towards further increasing the region’s resilience to earthquakes.
Back to Speakers overview
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