Advancing regional analysis of road infrastructure exposure to fault displacement hazard: A New Zealand case study

This article develops an approach to quantify how much road infrastructure is exposed to the potential for ground movement and deformation, caused by fault rupture during earthquakes.

The authors found that four areas emerged as likely particularly exposed:

• Wellington
• Eastern North Island
• West Coast
• Upper South Island.

The Wellington Region was found to be particularly exposed where roads intersect the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa Faults. Sections of State Highway 6 along the Alpine Fault in the West Coast are at higher risk. This work underscores the need for regional approaches to fault displacement hazard and for targeted mitigation.

The findings provide insights into infrastructure resilience planning for transport and other systems in seismically active areas.

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