About RiskScape

RiskScape, a joint venture between GNS Science & NIWA, is an easy-to-use tool for analysing risks and impacts from multiple hazards. It converts hazard exposure information into the likely impacts for a locality or region, for example, damage and replacement costs, casualties, economic losses, infrastructure and business disruption, and number of people affected. 

 RiskScape Process

RiskScape currently models impacts for five natural hazards:

Floods
River Floods
earthquakes
Earthquakes
volcanoes
Volcanoes (Ash)
Tsunami
Tsunami
Wind Storm
Wind Storms


Future enhancements will include extending this list of hazards to include:

  • Landslides (both earthquake and rainfall triggered)
  • Coastal storm tide inundation
  • Proximal volcanic hazards (pyroclastic flows and lahars)
  • Snow storms
  • Climate change effects

We want RiskScape to become a useful tool for local governments, emergency management groups, utility companies and other other organisations involved in managing the imapcts of natural hazard. To  achieve this we have partnered with three diverse geographical areas, Westport (Buller District Council, West Coast Regional Council), Napier/Hastings (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council) and Christchurch (Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury) to use the tool in modeling the impacts of various natural hazards on assets (people, buildings infrastructure). From these partnerships, a working RiskScape model prototype has been developed and is available to all registered RiskScape users. Please register here for a copy of the RiskScape model prototype and free two month license.