Prompted by the recent Kaikoura and Christchurch earthquakes, Callaghan Innovation purchased the cost effective Palert earthquake warning system to help improve staff health and safety. Installed by Jenlogix partner, Red Wolf Security, the system is installed in the offices of Callaghan in Wellington and Christchurch, providing warning of earthquake shock waves before they arrive, switching off/on emergency systems, and triggering visible and audible alarms, enabling staff to potentially exit the building before the destructive wave arrives.


Data from the system is sent to a central server, hosted by Red Wolf in their secure data centre, for processing. Combined with data from additional units in Wellington, Christchurch and other locations, the server can provide shake maps of the earthquake normally within a minute of a quake occurring. The data will also be sent to engineering firms to enable rapid determination of the health of the buildings after a severe shake.With over 3,000 units installed worldwide, the Palert P-wave seismic alarm system has proven itself at helping provide early warning where possible, plus supplying valuable data on the effects of an Earthquake. All products in the Palert range are independently calibrated and certified by an internationally ISO approved testing laboratory.
The breakthrough technology of the advanced, cost effective, Palert system can give you that warning and the chance to act before the main devastating shock wave arrives. A P-wave of an earthquake is like seeing lightning before hearing the thunder. Alternatively the Palert can be used to protect key assets. Even without any early warning the Palert can be used as a local Earthquake Detection System to manage local assets.
Callaghan Innovation, a Crown entity of New Zealand, has the task of making New Zealand business more innovative. It was established in February 2013 and the Crown Research Institute Industrial Research Limited was merged into it. Callaghan Innovation provide a single front door to the innovation system for businesses at all stages of their innovation journey – from start-ups to the most experienced R&D performers.
For more information please see the website
https://earthquakeearlywarning.systems
or contact Keith at 021840530, keith@jenlogix.co.nz

​In Greenland such a quake caused a tsunami. Could that happen in NZ? That's a very good question.

7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes near Hanmer Springs in South Island - two killed, Kaikoura isolated, Wellington CBD damaged.
See this link
Also Helicopter view
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Over 24 hours later large aftershock affecting Wellington.

Our thoughts go out to all those who are suffering the major earthquake in Taiwan this weekend. As can be seen from this site the strength of the shake and aftershocks are greater than the actual 6.4 quake. Click on the link and then the arrow to the side of the quake to see how the earthquake developed. The dots are Palert systems that registered the quake as it happened.
http://palert.earth.sinica.edu.tw/

Happy New Year to you all

Just a quick reminder about the Intensity V Magnitude of an Earthquake. While there is a correlation it is often not linear. Instruments measure the intensity of an earthquake using Peak ground acceleration (PGA). This is equal to the maximum ground acceleration that occurred during earthquake shaking at a location. Measured in gravity (g) or Gal where 1g=981Gal. The magnitude often using the Moment Magnitude (often mislabelled as Richter) scale is the amount of energy released.

Cliffhanger part of Earthquake Shakemap Trial in Wellington.

The house in Wellington featured on New Zealand Grand Design - and hanging OFF the 45 degrees cliff face - is one of a number of sites in the area that have the low cost Palert system installed. Connected back to a secure central server the Palerts provide data to enable shake maps to be produced within seconds of an event.  These are the initial units to be deployed and will eventually be part of a more sophisticated early warning system.

The house hangs from the cliff face and as such the units showed there is a very small strain on the foundation of under 0.2 gal (ground acceleration). Not surprising as most of the house hangs out over the cliff. An amazing piece of engineering. For more information on the house see :-
Grand Designs cliff-hanger creates prototype for steep sites