New Zealand has developed strong building codes to reduce the change that buildings are damaged in an earthquake, and those codes are based on detailed geologic and engineering research. Engineers design buildings so they can move safely during shaking rather than collapse. Scientists help by mapping the location of major faults and study evidence from past earthquakes to better understand how pressure builds up and where future events may occur. That research helps guide long-term planning and decisions about where infrastructure can be built more safely.
Part of the reason for my move to Dunedin was to contribute to this broader effort! I am working on a research project studying a smaller fault under the ocean near the coast of Dunedin in order to better figure out its location and learn if it might be likely to produce an earthquake. By mapping the shape and location of the fault beneath the seafloor and by analyzing how the fault has moved in the past, we can improve our understanding of how pressure accumulates and may eventually be released in the form of an earthquake. Even though these processes are very slow and an earthquake may not happen anytime soon, refining our understanding of them helps communities, scientists and engineers prepare in advance.
