Auckland Council

This category is open to any geotechnical company that can show excellence in the way it has used digital technology to improve systems, performance, processes or project delivery within its own business between January 2022 and January 2023. Entries in this category should focus on business-wide innovations and, where applicable, be used on multiple projects. Project-specific innovations should be entered in the Technical Excellence category. Entries could focus on a particular digital innovation - such as an initiative to improve safety, employment practices, collaboration or delivery - or present how digital innovation is fostered and encouraged across the business and the benefits this is driving. The innovation could be site or office based, and entrants should present clear evidence of how the innovation has delivered performance, cost, health and safety or reliability improvements for the business and how this benefits both clients and society.

New Zealand Landslide Database and reporting tool

The New Zealand Landslide Database (NZLD) has been established to save lives, and help infrastructure owners and planners understand landslide risk. A key feature of the database is it’s online, cross-organisation structure that allows landslide data to be easily entered in a single location by all the relevant organisations. In the severe flooding and that hit Auckland on 27 January 2023 many hundreds of landslides were reported across Auckland. The public online landslide reporting tool enabled private landowners to report the spatial location of the landslide from their phone without downloading an app or needing any specialist knowledge. It provided an immediate report to the Auckland Council geotechnical team, who were able to respond rapidly to life safety issues. The database also provided a live-feed to the Auckland Emergency Management Emergency Control Centre, improving their situational awareness and enabling appropriate emergency response.