This Phase 2 workstream consists of two roundtable discussions exploring how infrastructure and geohazard data (as well as other data) can help support internet resilience in Aotearoa in the context of climate change.
Having consistent, available, interoperable data about New Zealand’s internet infrastructure and the climate hazards that may impact it can support decision-making about vulnerabilities, future investment and critical interdependencies (e.g. with electricity infrastructure).
In this phase, the focus will be on hearing from people about their:
We welcome all members of the IICR Network to attend these round table sessions. We especially encourage participation from people and organisations that collect, manage or use geohazard and/or infrastructure data in their day-to-day work. If there is an organisation or person who would be interested in these roundtable discussions but are not currently part of the Network, please have them get in touch with us at [email protected].
In the research for our Backgrounder document, we identified two areas where further inquiry could prove useful in regards to data and Internet infrastructure climate resilience. These will be a focus of the roundtable discussions (however, there may be other types of data which are also discussed):
Understanding and mapping New Zealand’s physical internet infrastructure: We have heard in our research to date that there is not currently a holistic understanding of all New Zealand’s physical internet infrastructure, although information about some aspects is available and efforts are underway on this issue. Barriers we have heard about include that information is held across a variety of infrastructure owners, researchers and sectors, and often not made available except under specific circumstances.
Consistent hazard data to inform future decisions: To make decisions about internet infrastructure resilience, consistent hazard data needs to be available to decision-makers (including telco companies, policy-makers and communities). At the moment, organisations like councils which provide hazard data and undertake vulnerability assessments use a range of formats and approaches (e.g. use of different GIS tools and formats).
Some work is already underway in these areas, and there is an opportunity to take stock of the current state and actions that could ensure integrated, nationally-consistent information about internet infrastructure and the climate hazards that might affect it.
NOTE: The session was originally scheduled for 14 October, but was postponed to 29 October.