GNSS Support for Christchurch Earthquake Relief

Christchurch, New Zealand, has recently suffered not one but two major earthquakes, in September 2010 and February 2011, which created devastation in the city centre and eastern suburbs. Even today, some five months later, a significant area of the inner city is still inaccessible. The CHC X91 GNSS receiver deployed by a Paterson Pitts Group survey team on two key projects has contributed to enabling decisions about how the planned reconstruction of Christchurch should proceed.  

Several thousand houses near the Avon River and estuary which have been damaged by the earthquake and resulting liquefaction are likely to never be rebuilt. When undertaking decisions of this magnitude, it is essential to have high-quality data.

"The high degree of accuracy, affordable cost, robust nature and excellent support has made the CHC GNSS equipment ideal for both land and hydrographic spatial control," said Nigel Pitts, director of Paterson Pitts Group. "The environment was challenging enough and the dependability, functionality and light weight of the X91 rover and Getac controller running Carlson SurvCE software was of immense assistance," Nigel added.

 "We have intensified our support to existing and potential customers following the earthquake, culminating in a visit to Christchurch and Dunedin to offer local surveyors the chance to be trained on GNSS Survey equipment and to install an Internet Base Station in Christchurch," says George Zhao, CEO of CHC. "Equipment reliability and field technical support responsiveness are key aspects in disaster-recovery projects," Zhao added.