New Zealand’s unique geological landscape presents ongoing risks from natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. For decades, government agencies, scientists, and policymakers have relied on hazard modelling to assess risks and inform planning decisions. However, traditional software tools lacked the flexibility and scalability needed to process vast amounts of geospatial data efficiently.
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How an open source engine assesses damage to NZ homes from natural disasters
02 Apr 2025, 12:24 PMDiscover the award-winning platform that provides detailed insights into the potential impact of natural hazards like earthquakes, floods and cyclones in Aotearoa.
Risk analysis for natural hazards in Aotearoa
To tackle this challenge, GNS Science and NIWA partnered with Catalyst, an expert in open source IT solutions, to rebuild RiskScape™—an advanced, open-source engine that processes geospatial data for risk analysis and decision-making. This collaboration has resulted in a powerful, customisable tool that allows scientists, councils, and emergency planners to model how different natural hazards could impact buildings and infrastructure, helping New Zealand better prepare for disasters.
A legacy system in need of a modern upgrade
RiskScape™ originated in 2004 as a project developed by GNS Science and NIWA, two of New Zealand’s leading Crown Research Institutes specialising in earth sciences and environmental research. Over the years, the platform has contributed to multiple research projects, supporting councils, emergency managers, and insurers in assessing natural hazard risks.
However, the early version of RiskScape™ was built on outdated technologies that limited its flexibility and scalability. The system relied on hard-coded data, making it difficult to integrate new datasets or adjust risk models dynamically. With increasing demand for more advanced risk modelling, GNS Science and NIWA recognised the need for a complete redevelopment.
They engaged Catalyst, a leading IT consulting firm specialising in open source solutions, to review the existing software and recommend improvements. Catalyst’s evaluation highlighted the need for a third-party development team with expertise in geospatial processing and open source software. Following a competitive process, Catalyst was selected to lead the modernisation of RiskScape™.
Building an open source solution for smarter risk analysis
The new RiskScape™ software was redesigned as a fully open source, flexible modelling engine capable of handling complex geospatial datasets. Unlike its predecessor, this new version could process multiple hazard types and simulate their impact on different building structures and locations.
For example, using RiskScape™, researchers can analyse:
- How changing minimum floor heights could reduce the impact of a hundred-year flood event.
- The effect of flood depth and water flow rate on different building types, such as timber-framed houses vs brick houses.
- The overall adverse consequences for communities and infrastructure exposed to natural hazards.
The system ingests data from raster images (such as flood depth maps) and vector data (such as building footprints and structural details). Scientists can customise risk models in two ways:
- Defining their models using a combination of RiskScape’s expression language and Python.
- Using a guided, step-by-step wizard for more intuitive analysis.
This flexible approach allows users to generate high-precision risk assessments tailored to different hazard scenarios.
A collaborative, Agile development process
Catalyst introduced Agile development methodologies to ensure an efficient and collaborative process. As part of the engagement, Catalyst ran Agile and Product Owner training for the GNS Science and NIWA teams, ensuring everyone had a clear understanding of how the new software would be developed, tested, and iterated upon.
This scientific approach to Agile development allowed researchers and developers to:
- Test new models quickly and adjust based on real-world results
- Integrate additional datasets dynamically to refine risk predictions
- Collaborate seamlessly across multiple organisations, ensuring transparency in development
As the project gained traction, other stakeholders expressed interest in using RiskScape™. The Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (formerly the Earthquake Commission (EQC) saw the potential to replace its existing risk modelling tool, Minerva, with RiskScape™.
Real-world applications of RiskScape™
Helping councils make informed land-use decisions
Regional councils across New Zealand contract GNS Science and NIWA to assess land-use safety using RiskScape™. The tool can determine whether new developments are at risk of flooding, landslides, or earthquakes, which allows NZ regulatory bodies to make smarter planning decisions.
Enhancing disaster preparedness and response
Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake uses RiskScape™ for loss modelling, helping the insurance sector estimate damage and losses from major disasters. RiskScape also supports post-event modelling, providing real-time impact assessments to aid emergency response teams in the aftermath of earthquakes and extreme weather events.
Disaster support
During Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, MBIE and the National Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake EQC trialed a RiskScape dashboard to forecast landslide and flood impacts. Providing twice-daily updates, it accurately predicted damage to properties, highways, and rail networks, aiding response efforts. Its success lays the foundation for future rapid risk assessments, improving preparedness for extreme events.
The open source advantage
One of the key benefits of rebuilding RiskScape™ as an open-source platform is that it removes licensing fees and vendor lock-in. This means:
- Researchers worldwide can use the tool to model natural disasters and to help reduce their impact.
- Government agencies and businesses can customize the software to their specific needs.
- Other open source projects benefit—Catalyst has contributed fixes and enhancements to geospatial tools like GeoTools, further strengthening the open source ecosystem.
The future of RiskScape™
RiskScape™ continues to evolve as a cutting-edge risk assessment tool, with Catalyst, NIWA, and GNS Science working on further enhancements.
Upcoming developments include:
- Expanding hazard modelling capabilities for a broader range of disasters.
- Developing new features to provide a finer-grain picture of risk in NZ.
- Enhancing usability to make it even more accessible to councils, emergency responders, and insurers.
While RiskScape™ is a highly technical tool, its impact touches every New Zealander—from helping to understand earthquake risks homeowners face to supporting national disaster planning efforts.
Interested to learn more?
Catalyst continues to collaborate with GNS Science and NIWA on ongoing enhancements. Contact us if you're interested in learning more about open source engines, like RiskScape, for your organisation.