IRISS (Increasing Resilience in Surveillance Societies) FP7 European Research Project, Deliverable D6.1: 2011 Christchurch earthquake, in A report on resilience in "democratic" surveillance societies

Abstract

Located on the South Island of New Zealand, and sitting within the Canterbury region, the city of Christchurch (population: 341,000) is the country's second largest city. The Mw6.3 earthquake which hit Christchurch unexpectedly and catastrophically on 22 February 2011 at 12.51 killed over 180 people, injured a further 1500-2000, and was in fact an aftershock of a previous earthquake (Mw7.1) occurring on 4 September 2010 which resulted in no fatalities.This Report examines the emergent intertwined relationships between resilience, surveillance and big data in contemporary crisis management processes in a number of different settings. In doing so, the Report explores the evolution of established crisis management institutions and techniques alongside the increasing use of new technologies. At the heart of the Report, lies analysis of resilience and surveillance at national and local levels, involving different institutions, actors and actions.