RiskScape Software Assesses Cyclone Impact in New Zealand

Cyclone Gabrielle: RiskScape Software Aids in Landslide Forecasting

In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle struck New Zealand’s North Island, causing 11 fatalities and approximately NZ$13.5 billion in damages, the highest ever recorded for a Southern Hemisphere cyclone. A significant concern was the risk of rainfall-induced landslides. To mitigate this, New Zealand employed RiskScape, an open-source software tool designed to assess potential damage and losses from various natural hazards, including landslides.
Funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Earthquake Commission (EQC), RiskScape was used to develop a risk modelling dashboard. This dashboard provided twice-daily forecasts on landslide impacts, focusing on properties, highways, and the rail network. According to Dr. Nick Horspool, a Senior Risk Scientist at GNS Science Te Pū Ao, the initial residential claims correlated closely with the forecasted impacts, demonstrating the tool’s accuracy.
RiskScape’s effectiveness underscores its readiness to offer evidence-based advice and modeling, helping New Zealand better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to such natural hazards.