Object Overview of 'Greendale Fault: investigation of surface rupture characteristics for fault avoidance zonation (Villamor et al, 2011).'
A pothole in a road surface, showing tyre marks where a vehicle has driven through the hole. The photographer comments, "After the earthquake in Christchurch in February 2011 burst underground pipes and liquefaction caused unseen hollows under the road surfaces. Occasionally after all the rest have been exposed by traffic someone would find 'discover' a new one".
A crack running through a tar-sealed surface.
Spray paint on the footpath to mark out the uneven surface.
A street sign and road cone near the Avon River saying "Uneven Surface".
Spray painted marks on the footpath outside the Casino indicating cracks and uneven surfaces.
A damaged house with cracks down the wall sits on an uneven surface.
The previously unknown Greendale Fault ruptured to the ground surface, causing up to 5 metres horizontal and 1 metre vertical permanent offset of the ground, during the September 2010 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake. Environment Canterbury commissioned GNS Science, with help from the University of Canterbury, to define a fault avoidance zone and to estimate the fault recurrence interval. There is little evidence for past movement on the fault in the past 16,000 years. However, because of the uncertainties involved, a conservative approach was taken and the fault has been categorised as a Recurrence Interval Class IV fault (a recurrence interval of between 5,000 and 10,000 years). A PhD study by a University of Canterbury student will work towards refining the Recurrence Interval Class over the next three years. Taking a risk-based approach, the Ministry for the Environment Active Fault Guidelines recommend that normal residential development be allowed within the fault avoidance zone for faults of this Recurrence Interval Class, but recommends restrictions for larger community buildings or facilities with post-disaster functions. The report is assisting Selwyn District Council in granting consents for rebuilding houses on or near the Greendale Fault that were damaged by permanent distortion of the ground due to the fault rupture in the September 2010 earthquake. The report provides specific recommendations for building on or close to the Greendale Fault, which are being implemented by Selwyn District Council. See Object Overview for background and usage information.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Extensive damage to the road surface in Raven Quay, Kaiapoi".
A large crack running through the surface of Bridge Street on the approach to the bridge.
Two road cones mark out an uneven surface on the road. The hole is filled with water.
People examine large cracks running through the surface of Bridge Street on the approach to the bridge.
Interview with Surface Water Planner, Graham Harrington. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
A view down the Avon River in the city centre. A street sign marks out an uneven surface further down the street.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Sam Bowen (9) explores the huge cracks in the road surface in Raven Quay, Kaiapoi".
A large crack running through the surface of Bridge Street on the approach to the bridge. In the background a man is photographing cracks in the road.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch scenes after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The hockey surface at Porritt Park in Avondale/Wainoni".
A flow chart depicting potential hazards earthquakes pose to coastal geography.
Dried liquefaction silt in North New Brighton. The photographer comments, "Here you can see the very fine surface layer of liquefaction starting to shrink, crack and then curl up on itself".
Road damage and liquefaction in a residential street. The photographer comments, "A great gouge in the road caused by liquefaction undermining the road surface and a car driving over it. This was the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand on 22 February 2011".
Liquefaction in North New Brighton. The photographer comments, "This is the liquid part of liquefaction left when the heavier sand content has dropped down. After the double quake in Christchurch local to me I found these strange lines of bubbles on the surface".
Workers operate a drilling rig inside a Terra Probe truck, which has been raised on jacks to make it stable. The photographer comments, "Another completely different company testing what is below the surface to determine what type of foundations new houses will need. This is in one the blue/green area of earthquake shaken Christchurch. Strangely this is 3 metres away from where the other testing was done".
This report provides information on the locations and character of active geological faults and folds in Ashburton District. The faults are mapped at a district scale and the information is intended to highlight areas where there is a risk of permanent fault movement at the ground surface, and where more detailed investigations should be done if development is proposed in that area (depending on the potential activity of the fault and the type of development proposed). See Object Overview for background and usage information. Most of the faults and folds identified at the ground surface in Ashburton District are in rural or very sparsely populated areas. In addition, most of the faults have relatively long recurrence intervals (long-term average time between fault movements) in the order of several thousand years. Following the Ministry for the Environment Active Fault Guidelines, normal residential development would be allowed on or near faults with recurrence intervals this long. There are no recommendations associated with this report. The information in the report will be reviewed as required, after the remaining district reports are completed in the region.
A digitally manipulated photograph of twisted reinforcing rods amongst the rubble from the demolition of QEII. The photographer comments, "These rarely seen worms live in the pressurised earth under the foundations of buildings. They need a damp soil and be under at least 100 pounds of pressure per square inch. After the destructive force of an earthquake they swiftly rise to the surface through gaps in the rubble. Unfortunately they quickly die and then crystallise as hard as iron in the dry low pressure air".
This report provides information on the locations and character of active geological faults and folds in Mackenzie District. The faults are mapped at a district scale and the information is intended to highlight areas where there is a risk of fault movement, and where more detailed investigations should be done if development is proposed in that area(depending on the potential activity of the fault and the type of development proposed). Most of the faults and folds identified at the ground surface in Mackenzie District are in rural or very sparsely populated areas. In addition, most of the faults have relatively long recurrence intervals (long-term average time between fault movements) in the order of several thousand years. Following the Ministry for the Environment Active Fault Guidelines, normal residential development would be allowed on or near faults with recurrence intervals this long. There are no recommendations associated with this report. The information in the report will be reviewed as required, after the remaining district reports are completed in the region. See Object Overview for background and usage information.