An example of a checklist used by SCIRT traffic management teams to perform site checks.
Hybrid broadband simulation methods typically compute high-frequency portion of ground-motions using a simplified-physics approach (commonly known as “stochastic method”) using the same 1D velocity profile, anelastic attenuation profile and site-attenuation (κ0) value for all sites. However, these parameters relating to Earth structure are known to vary spatially. In this study we modify this conventional approach for high-frequency ground-shaking by using site-specific input parameters (referred to as “site-specific”) and analyze improvements over using same parameters for all sites (referred to as “generic”). First, we theoretically understand how different 1D velocity profiles, anelastic attenuation profiles and site-attenuation (κ0) values affects the Fourier Acceleration Spectrum (FAS). Then, we apply site-specific method to simulate 10 events from the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence to assess performance against the generic approach in predicting recorded ground-motions. Our initial results suggest that the site-specific method yields a lower simulation standard deviation than generic case.
A document which outlines how to keep site staff and public safe around mobile plant, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to keep site staff and public safe around traffic, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document created in 2012 that provides a range of ideas and examples successfully used by SCIRT to manage a site visit information day.
Background This study examines the performance of site response analysis via nonlinear total-stress 1D wave-propagation for modelling site effects in physics-based ground motion simulations of the 2010-2011 Canterbury, New Zealand earthquake sequence. This approach allows for explicit modeling of 3D ground motion phenomena at the regional scale, as well as detailed nonlinear site effects at the local scale. The approach is compared to a more commonly used empirical VS30 (30 m time-averaged shear wave velocity)-based method for computing site amplification as proposed by Graves and Pitarka (2010, 2015), and to empirical ground motion prediction via a ground motion model (GMM).
A document which describes best practice for dewatering guidelines.
A presentation prepared by one of the site engineers restoring the Memorial Arch and Bridge of Remembrance, outlining the damage to the structures, the repair designs and the construction methodologies.
An example of a briefing provided to support staff hosting an event so they fully understood their roles and the focus of the event. The document was created in 2012.
A pdf copy of a cut-out dress-up game for young children involving safety gear.
A presentation given to St Martin's primary school students about SCIRT work in Opawa and Hillsborough.
A pdf copy of a drawing for children focusing on diggers and road cones.
A document for SCIRT's communications team which details how SCIRT should carry out school visits.
A pdf copy of a SCIRT school visit feedback form from Richmond Primary School.
A document which outlines how to work safely around underground services, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to work safely in confined spaces, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to safely carry out lifting operations, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to work safely in trenches and excavations, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
To identify key ground characteristics that led to different liquefaction manifestations during the Canterbury earthquakes
A document which outlines how to work safely at height and depth, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A document which outlines how to work safely with powered plant and tools, created to discuss with site staff at on-site "toolbox talks".
A best practice traffic management guideline, produced in February 2014, which helps traffic management team members slow motorists through road work sites safely.
The latest two great earthquake sequences; 2010- 2011 Canterbury Earthquake and 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, necessitate a better understanding of the New Zealand seismic hazard condition for new building design and detailed assessment of existing buildings. It is important to note, however, that the New Zealand seismic hazard map in NZS 1170.5.2004 is generalised in effort to cover all of New Zealand and limited to a earthquake database prior to 2001. This is “common” that site-specific studies typically provide spectral accelerations different to those shown on the national map (Z values in NZS 1170.5:2004); and sometimes even lower. Moreover, Section 5.2 of Module 1 of the Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering Practice series provide the guidelines to perform site- specific studies.
A web story about a site visit to the Bridge and Arch by local school pupils.
The Canterbury Earthquake Sequence 2010-2011 (CES) induced widespread liquefaction in many parts of Christchurch city. Liquefaction was more commonly observed in the eastern suburbs and along the Avon River where the soils were characterised by thick sandy deposits with a shallow water table. On the other hand, suburbs to the north, west and south of the CBD (e.g. Riccarton, Papanui) exhibited less severe to no liquefaction. These soils were more commonly characterised by inter-layered liquefiable and non-liquefiable deposits. As part of a related large-scale study of the performance of Christchurch soils during the CES, detailed borehole data including CPT, Vs and Vp have been collected for 55 sites in Christchurch. For this subset of Christchurch sites, predictions of liquefaction triggering using the simplified method (Boulanger & Idriss, 2014) indicated that liquefaction was over-predicted for 94% of sites that did not manifest liquefaction during the CES, and under-predicted for 50% of sites that did manifest liquefaction. The focus of this study was to investigate these discrepancies between prediction and observation. To assess if these discrepancies were due to soil-layer interaction and to determine the effect that soil stratification has on the develop-ment of liquefaction and the system response of soil deposits.
Despite the relatively low seismicity, a large earthquake in the Waikato region is expected to have a high impact, when the fourth-largest regional population and economy and the high density critical infrastructure systems in this region are considered. Furthermore, Waikato has a deep soft sedimentary basin, which increases the regional seismic hazard due to trapping and amplification of seismic waves and generation of localized surface waves within the basin. This phenomenon is known as the “Basin Effect”, and has been attributed to the increased damage in several historic earthquakes, including the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes. In order to quantitatively model the basin response and improve the understanding of regional seismic hazard, geophysical methods will be used to develop shear wave velocity profiles across the Waikato basin. Active surface wave methods involve the deployment of linear arrays of geophones to record the surface waves generated by a sledge hammer. Passive surface wave methods involve the deployment of two-dimensional seismometer arrays to record ambient vibrations. At each site, the planned testing includes one active test and two to four passive arrays. The obtained data are processed to develop dispersion curves, which describe surface wave propagation velocity as a function of frequency (or wavelength). Dispersion curves are then inverted using the Geopsy software package to develop a suite of shear wave velocity profiles. Currently, more than ten sites in Waikato are under consideration for this project. This poster presents the preliminary results from the two sites that have been tested. The shear wave velocity profiles from all sites will be used to produce a 3D velocity model for the Waikato basin, a part of QuakeCoRE flagship programme 1.
A best practice traffic management guideline, produced in February 2014, which helps traffic management team members manage cyclists through road work sites safely.
An authority granted by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, providing the authority to carry out earthquake repair work that may affect archaeological sites within the Lyttelton area.
A document which contains several examples of SCIRT Safety Alerts, which were documents sent out to inform and educate all site staff after an incident.
An authority granted by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, providing the authority to carry out earthquake repair work that may affect archaeological sites within the Christchurch City area.