Mapping Resilience | Far North District Liquefaction Vulnerability Study
Service Area: Geotechnical Engineering
Industry: Council / Public Infrastructure
Service: Liquefaction Vulnerability Mapping, Hazard Assessment
Location: Far North District, Northland
Deliverables: GIS map, Geotechnical report, Metadata, Readme file
To find out which classification your property is in, click to view the map.
The Bottom Line
VISION's comprehensive liquefaction vulnerability assessment provided the Far North District Council with an intuitive and robust GIS tool, enabling informed land-use planning and enhanced community resilience against earthquake hazards.
Task
VISION Consulting Engineers Ltd. was engaged by the Far North District Council to undertake a district-wide liquefaction vulnerability study, providing a critical GIS mapping tool to satisfy MBIE requirements and inform land-use planning and building consent assessments.
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Problem
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The Far North District Council required a rapid and comprehensive assessment to understand regional liquefaction risk.
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Interpreting complex geotechnical data for widespread land-use planning purposes posed a significant challenge for end-users.
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Existing data and mapping needed to be synthesised and presented in an accessible, actionable format for council staff and the public.
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A consistent, national standard for liquefaction hazard mapping was required to align with MBIE guidelines.
Solution
As part of the solution, VISION conducted a detailed geotechnical assessment using existing data, topography, and generalised geology to identify areas across the district that may be prone to liquefaction. Based on these findings, we developed a user-friendly GIS map that classifies land into three clear vulnerability categories, making it easy for council officers and engineers to interpret. To ensure accuracy, we implemented a rigorous quality control process — including the reclassification of coastal areas — to minimise the risk of misinterpretation of the underlying data. The final deliverables included a comprehensive report and GIS files, designed for smooth integration into the Council’s internal and public-facing systems, along with practical usage guidelines.​​
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"Knowing an area's likelihood of damage due to liquefaction empowers property owners to take appropriate action, such as reinforcing a building's foundation. It also aids the council and civil defence in land use and emergency planning.”
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Benefits
This analysis equipped the Far North District Council with a vital tool for proactive earthquake risk management and safer development. It streamlined the building consent and land-use planning processes through clear, categorised liquefaction vulnerability data & enhanced community safety and long-term resilience by providing foundational hazard assessment information.
The project benefited from VISION’s local geotechnical engineering expertise, ensuring efficient communication and a deep understanding of regional conditions. The outcome is a high-quality, competitively priced engineering solution tailored to the Council's specific needs and timeframe.
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Far North District Council Testimonial
​Trent Blakeman, Manager
- Building Services, FNDC
VISION's expertise and comprehensive approach were instrumental in delivering a high-quality assessment that will benefit our community for years to come.