Current Research Projects

Researcher: Tony Moore

Abstract:As part of the Cross Departmental Research Project (CDRP), analysis of rainwater collected from weather stations across New Zealand has led to identification of the stable isotope composition of precipitation throughout the country. Stable isotope data from January 2007 to February 2008 was available for analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS), with the aim of producing maps displaying the isotopic variability of rainfall across New Zealand. The data was composed of delta values for the stable isotope ratios of 2H (or deuterium) and 18Oxygen acquired from each station's monthly rainfall. The work in the project report aims to contribute to the CDRP's aims of establishing the point of origin of biological materials, with the mapping procedure supplying predictions of isotopic composition in areas where rainfall is not currently sampled or analysed.

Collaborators: Liz Metsers (now with Department of Conservation, Invercargill), Russell Frew (Department of Chemistry, University of Otago), Mike Darling (Forensic Solutions Ltd., Dunedin)

Funding: Biosecurity NZ / Department of Chemistry

Publications:

Metsers, L, Moore, A, Frew, R and Darling, M. 2009. "Isotopic Variability of Rainfall across New Zealand, January 2007 - February 2008" Report for Biosecurity NZ, 57pp.

Researcher: Pascal Sirguey

Abstract: Situated in the Southern Alps, theWaitaki basin is the most important hydro catchment in New Zealand and provides approximately one-third of New Zealand's hydro electricity production. Three sub-catchments receive most of the precipitation: Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekapo. In this alpine region an important fraction of the total precipitation falls as snow, which accumulates during winter months from April to October. Thus, a large part of the water resource is temporarily stored as seasonal snow cover and the snowmelt from these catchments is estimated to contribute from 18% to 24% of the total annual runoff and up to 40% to 50% of the spring and summer inflows.

It has been long-established that satellite remote sensing is a very powerful tool to monitor snow cover in remote and hardly accessible areas. Considerable efforts have been made recently to routinely produce maps of sub-pixel snow fraction of the area from NASA's MODderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). A temporal time series of MODIS-derived snow maps is used to assess the performance of the existing snow pack modelling strategy (SnowSim-Pukaki). Furthermore, daily meteorological data (i.e., temperature and precipitations) and the frequent observations of the snowpack from MODIS enable the use of the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) to simulate the discharge of the three sub-catchments over the hydrological years 2000–2007.

Collaborators:

• Dr. Renaud Mathieu, CSIR–NRE, Earth Observation Research Group, Pretoria, South Africa
• Dr. Yves Arnaud, IRD–Great Ice, LGGE, 54 Saint Martin d'Hères, France
• Prof. Blair Fitzharris, Department of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Funding: University of Otago, School of Surveying

Publications:

Sirguey, P. (2009, In press). Simple correction of multiple reflection effects in rugged terrain, International Journal of Remote Sensing.

Sirguey, P. (2009) Use of remote sensing to monitor and improve the management of stored water resources. Solar Action Bulletin. 86:22-23.

Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R. & Arnaud, Y. (2009). Monitoring the seasonal snow cover distribution with MODIS at 250 m spatial resolution in the Southern Alps of New Zealand: methodology and accuracy assessment, Remote Sensing of Environment. 113(1): 160-181

Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., Arnaud, Y., Khan, M. M. & Chanussot, J. (2008). Improving MODIS spatial resolution for snow mapping using wavelet fusion and ARSIS concept, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters. 5(1): 78-82.

Sirguey, P., Oltmer, S. & Mathieu, R. (2007). Assessment of the performance of image fusion for the mapping of snow using Euclidean distance, In P. A. Whigham (ed.), 19th Annual Colloquium of the Spatial Information Research Centre. The University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand pp. 13-24.

Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., Arnaud, Y., Khan, M. M. & Chanussot, J. (2007). Improved Resolution for the Detection of Snow with MODIS Using Wavelet Fusion, Proceedings of the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. IEEE International IEEE Barcelona, Spain pp. 3975-3978.

Presentations:

2008 Snow and Ice Research Group New Zealand, February 4-6th 2008, Castle Hill, New Zealand. Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R. and Arnaud, Y.: Analysis of Relationships between time series of snow-cover parameters and tributary inflow in the lakes of the upper Waitaki catchment. (Presented at and abstract submitted)

2007 Energy Postgraduate Workshop, August 18th 2007, Dunedin, New Zealand. Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., Arnaud, Y. and Fitzharris, B. B.: Monitoring the snow cover dynamics using remotely sensed data.(Presented at and abstract submitted)

2007 Snow and Ice Research Group New Zealand, February 12-14th 2007, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R. and Arnaud, Y.: Operational and improved snow mapping at subpixel resolution in the Waitaki basin using MODIS/TERRA.(Presented at and abstract submitted)

Laboratoire de Glaciologie et de Géophysique de l'Environnement (LGGE), December 15th 2005, Grenoble, France. Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., Arnaud, Y. and Fitzharris, B. B.: An integrated IT-based method for monitoring snow-cover and efficiently managing stored water resources.(Presented at and abstract submitted)

Researcher: Pascal Sirguey

Abstract:

Delia Strong (MSc student) "Landscape change at the terminus of Tasman Glacier, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park": Landscape change in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is occurring rapidly, as valley glaciers appear to have entered a phase of accelerating retreat. Using remotely sensed images and historical maps, spatial and temporal changes in the behaviour and position of the terminus of the Tasman Glacier are examined. A chronology of change since early European settlement has been developed from historical maps, vertical aerial photographs and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images. Results show a 37% increase in the area of Tasman Lake from 2000 to 2006.

"Monitoring ice flow velocity from satellite feature tracking technique": Past and current researches have shown that Tasman glacier is undergoing dramatic changes since the last fifty years, accounting for a sustained downwasting and terminal retreat. Recently, a near-decade long time series of ASTER satellite images permitted to quantify the magnitude of the annual glacier retreat since year 2000; it depicted a significant acceleration in the last 4 years. Recent technical progress in image processing now enables us to estimate velocity field from automatic feature tracking of optical imagery. Due to its size and since it is densely covered by debris relatively prone to be recognized, Tasman glacier is an appropriate candidate for the use of such a technique. Thus its potential has been successfully assessed for Tasman glacier in 2002 but only by considering one pair of images one year apart. It is proposed to apply this technique (i.e., automatic feature tracking) to the full set of imagery available and upcoming one with the aim to investigate possible changes of regime of the ice flow. This investigation has the potential to provide new data toward a better understanding of the behaviour of Tasman glacier.

Collaborators:

• Sean Fitzsimmons, Department of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
• Delia Strong, Department of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
• Allen, S., Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Owens, I., Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Kerr, T., Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Funding: Active Earth Processes Research Theme, University of Otago

Publications:

Allen, S., Owens, I. & Sirguey, P. (2008). "Satellite remote sensing procedures for glacial terrain analyses and hazard assessment in the Aoraki Mount Cook region, New Zealand" New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 51(1): 73–87.

Researcher: Pascal Sirguey

Abstract:

The rise in the global demand for dairy products has led to significant changes in agricultural land use, with deer, and sheep & beef, competing with dairy for the prime fertile lowlands. This has seen an increased movement of deer farms, particularly breeding units, into more extensive high-country environments. There is little science available that documents the impacts of the foraging behaviour of farmed deer on plant community structure and ecosystem resilience within New Zealand high-country environments.

This project aims at creating a thematic map of vegetation cover using an object-based approach for the classification of Quickbird image. This map will then be used along with data collected from hinds equipped with GPS collars to understand the key drivers behind habitat utilisation, particularly during the critical periods of the deer reproductive cycle; calving and lactation (October- March).

Collaborators: Karren O'Neill and Dr. Geoff Asher, AgResearch Ltd.

Funding: AgResearch Ltd

Presentations:

Griffiths, W.M.; Asher, G.W.; Dickinson, K.; Lord, J.; O'Neill, K.; Archer, J. and Sirguey, P. (2008) "Understanding habitat utilisation by deer in extensive high-country environments using GIS and GPS technology", Poster presented at the Horizons in Livestock Sciences 2008, Christchurch, New Zealand, 28 October

Researcher: Mick Strack

Abstract: In Canada and New Zealand there are increasing calls for recognition of aboriginal rights which previously were ignored or denied because of the application of English law to concepts of property rights and ownership. English legal principles are vitally important in Canadian and New Zealand society, but there has always been room for local adaptations which could have recognised the existing practices and rights of the indigenous peoples.

The English law makes various assumptions about ownership of rivers, dividing them into bed, banks and water, and applying various tests of adjoining occupation, tidalness and navigability to determine rights. Aboriginal property rights have been guaranteed and protected by various mechanisms such as government policy, treaty, and the courts, but there is uncertainty about the status of rivers. This thesis examines the situation of rivers in Canada and New Zealand through common law, treaty provisions and through what is now, a developing body of applicable and recognised customary/Aboriginal law. From these three legal foundations, a case study approach focuses on the practical situation of the Siksika people on the Bow River in southern Alberta, and the Kai Tahu on the Taieri River in Otago.

Funding: New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Research Grant

Publications:

Strack M. S. and Chisholm C. 2001 Ownership or Control of our Rivers, Butterworths Resource Management Bulletin, 4 BRMB 52.

Strack M. S. 2007 Rebel Rivers: An Investigation into the River Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and New Zealand. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Researcher: Mick Strack

Abstract: Several iwi of the northern South Island dissatisfied with the allocations of Marine Farm licences, applied to the Maori Land Court for determination of their customary title to the foreshore and seabed. The case proceeded to the Court of Appeal (Ngati Apa v AG 2003), which decided that customary title to the foreshore and seabed may not have been extinguished by the sale of land or by legislation, and that the MLC had jurisdiction to determine customary title according to the particular fact of any situation. The government found that result unacceptable, and legislated to vest the foreshore and seabed in the Crown and extinguish customary title.

This action caused considerable discontent among Maori and many other New Zealanders concerned about the denial of legal process and the extinguishment of property rights.

Collaborators: None

Funding: Unfunded

Publications:

Strack M.S. 2004 Access, Navigation and Property Rights in the Foreshore and Seabed, Survey Quarterly, 39, 37-39

Strack M.S. 2004. Customary Title over the Foreshore and Seabed of Aotearoa: A Property Rights Perspective. Trans Tasman Surveyor, 6, 44-51

Strack M. S. 2003 Maori Customary Title Heading Offshore: The Foreshore and Seabed of Aotearoa, Survey Quarterly, 36, 3-4.

Researcher: Mick Strack

Abstract: The ownership of Maori land in New Zealand is under the jurisdiction of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 and the Maori Land Court. While this now provides some protection from alienation it also significantly restricts ownership authority and autonomy. Maori land suffers from problems such as multiple ownership, fragmented titles, insecure title registration, poor standards of survey, and is often remote, inaccessible and underutilised.

Publications:

Strack M. S. 2006 "Maori Land Loss: A study of the process of alienation - The Taieri Native Reserve", New Zealand Surveyor, 296, 13-19.

Strack M. S. and Rosie D. 2001 Maori Land: Kicking around the football, New Zealand Surveyor, 291, 15-19.

McHutchon N. and Strack M.S. 2001 The Forest or the Wood? Negotiating conflicts over SILNA land, Survey Quarterly, 25.

Researcher: Mick Strack

Abstract: Protected property rights depend on the definition and surveyed identification of boundaries and an efficient land registration system (cadastre) to record rights in land. Defining who owns what and where the boundaries are is a critical component of surveying, just as it is a source of conflict among the population.

Publications:

Strack, M. S. 2007 It's all "a little more or less", Law Talk, New Zealand Law Society.

Strack, M. S. 2006 "Fences on boundaries?" Survey Quarterly, 48, 8-9.

Strack, M. S. 2006 "Lessons from Katrina" Survey Quarterly, 48.

Strack M. S. 2003. "Who Owns New Zealand?" Survey Quarterly, 36, 22.

Ballantyne B and Strack M S. 2002 "Property Rights Study for Nunavut", Report to Nunavut Client Liaison Unit of Legal Surveys Division. Canada.

Strack M. S. 2001 "Land and Conflict at the Wairau", Survey Quarterly, 27.

Strack M. S. 2000 "Land and Conflict in Fiji. Survey Quarterly", 24.

Presentations:

Strack M.S. 2004 Rethinking Property Rights in New Zealand, The Olympic Spirit in Surveying: FIG Working Week, Athens, Greece.

Published on CD: ISBN 87-90907-30-2. and online at http://www.fig.net/pub/athens

Researcher: Mick Strack

Abstract: The planning regime based around the Resource Management Act and the promotion of the Urban Design Protocol requires the consideration and implementation of sustainable design. This includes protection of environmental, economic and social values supported by our built environment. It also requires a rethink of our energy use to support our urban, suburban and rural lifestyles, and the production of sustainable energy alternatives.

Publications:

Bedford L. and Strack M.S. 2004 "The Legal and Administrative Frameworks for Offshore Windfarms in New Zealand" New Zealand Surveyor, 294, 31-36.

Bedford L. and Strack M.S. 2004 "Catching the Sea Breeze: Offshore wind farms", Survey Quarterly, 37, 6-7.

Graham R. and Strack M. S. April 2000 "Alternative energy options for rural subdivisions", New Zealand Surveyor, 290, 39-43.

Research Collaborations and projects:

Book Proposal Beyond the Scene. Editors: Jacinta Ruru, Janet Stephenson, Mick Abbott.

Chapter Proposal. - Bounding the Land

Abstract: Landscapes are highly modified by settlement and production patterns, and underlying that is the cadastral framework – the legal boundaries superimposed on the land. The design and creation of these boundaries is performed by surveyors who have expertise in landform, land use and production patterns (both urban and rural), but still are constrained by historically ingrained thinking in straight lines and two dimensions. Consequently, the typical productive landscape is a grid like pattern of boundaries that clearly differentiates the extent of individual legal rights, but bears little relation to holistic and integrated ecosystems and 'natural' landscapes. However, there are some landscapes where the cadastral pattern and the allocation of individual rights are ignored because they are inappropriate for the owners and have become a barrier to both production off the land and the maintenance of any ongoing relationship with the land.

A case study of land that was the Taieri Native Reserve, alongside the lower Taieri River gorge, illustrates how cultural attitudes towards land are affected by the way the cadastral framework is imposed on landscape. In summary; the legal process of boundary survey and parcel allocation, was always inappropriate for Maori and consequently the land has been abandoned and the cadastral pattern is overgrown and is a non-visible element of the landscape, while on adjoining land owned by non-Maori the cadastral pattern has dominated the landscape.

Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai

http://csafe-server.otago.ac.nz:8080/Plone/about-us/research-team

Supervision of students looking at the spatial and planning components of Mataitai and Taiapure and marine reserves.

Law, Policy and Practice Research Cluster for the Environment.

Assessing the effects of the grant of lake titles to iwi (eg Lake Waihora) on access, management, environmental protection, production and use by Maori and others.

Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and the Environment

http://www.csafe.org.nz/index.html

Associate researcher.

Treaty Research Group

Collaboration in discussion forum for research on Treaty of Waitangi issues.

Researcher: David Goodwin

Abstract: Aspects of customary tenure may survive even where formal rules in a society supersede custom. This thesis is about land tenure custom that has persisted for Māori Freehold land in New Zealand and the Communal Areas (CAs) of Zimbabwe. A key difference between the two countries was found to lie in the type and degree of security available over the years to Ngāi Tahu, Shona and Ndebele. In Zimbabwe, tenure security in the CAs is still underwritten by communities, and significant investment is still made in both living and dead members of those communities, with land custom adapting dynamically to meet new challenges. In New Zealand, land and community are not as closely linked to survival as they were in the past and, for many, they have come to hold greater symbolic value and less practical significance. Security and 'belonging' influence customary land tenure practices in the long term, and need to be carefully managed in land reform and titling exercises.

Funding:

University of Otago Scholarship, NZIS research grant, School of Surveying Performance Based Research Fund grant, Otago Postgraduate Scholarship.

Publications:

Goodwin, D. P. 2008 "Belonging Knows No Boundaries: Persisting land tenure custom for Shona, Ndebele and Ngāi Tahu", PhD Thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2008.

Goodwin, D. P. 2005 "Key aspects of community-level tenure conversion for economically blocked land with customary links" FAO Land reform, Land settlement and Cooperatives 1, 120-130.

Goodwin, D. P. 2005 "Dealing with Priceless Treasure," New Zealand Surveyor, 295, 9-17.

Goodwin, D. P. 2005 "Once upon a time in Zimbabwe," Survey Quarterly 44, 11-13.

Goodwin, D. P. 2005 "Dealing with priceless treasure: Tenure modification over land with customary links" Jubilee workshop on "The role of Geoinformatics and Surveying in the 50th anniversary of the University of Zimbabwe, Harare, University of Zimbabwe.

Publications in preparation:

- To publish the PhD thesis in book form

- Persisting land tenure custom. Refereed journal paper in preparation.

-The Surveying/Anthropology nexus: surveying research that crosses the line to the social sciences. Paper in preparation.

Researcher: David Goodwin

Abstract: Those unused to legal language may make decisions based not on written text but on a verbal paraphrase of such texts, very often couched in figurative language. For example, ""King, the cow is yours. If she dies the skin is yours, if she calves the calf is yours. I only want the milk." Or, "The shadow of the land goes to Queen Victoria, but the substance remains to us".

This research project looks at figurative language in treaties and concessions made in New Zealand, Canada and Zimbabwe and legal implications regarding the intention underlying the written words.

Project collaborators: David Goodwin and Mick Strack.

Duration and papers: Planned duration one year, culminating in a refereed journal article.

Abstract: For historical reasons, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) maintains an observation database (distances and directions). However, new technologies such as GPS are geared towards storing and presenting data not by vectors (i.e. distances and directions) but rather in the form of coordinates. Despite a stated intention by the Surveyor General to leave surveyors to decide how to capture and present data, it is probable that vectors will still be specified to define positions in the future rather than coordinates. This research aims to carry out a survey and present data both by coordinates and by vectors in order to enable an objective comparison between the two methods. To date a site selection has been done and a pilot project completed.

Project collaborators: David Goodwin and Don McKinnon.

Funding: In preparation.

Duration and papers: Planned duration one year. Planned outputs are (a) a submission towards the Surveyor-General's Rules for Cadastral Survey (closing date 1^st March, 2008) and (b) a paper in the New Zealand Surveyor.

Researcher: Paul Denys

Abstract: This high precision GNSS positioning project is measuring both the rate and distribution of the mountain uplift in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand. The uplift is caused by the oblique strike-slip motion between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. We have geodetic quality Continuous GPS (CGPS) measurements from 2000 at 14 sites in a profile between Karangara on the West Coast to Mt John (Lake Tekapo) that spans the 70km wide deformation zone.

Of the 14 sites, 8 are operated as permanent sites (CGPS). To increase the distribution of the network, the remaining 6 sites are operated in a semi-continuous mode where each site is occupied for 6 month on a rotational basis.

Collaborators: John Beavan (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS)), Peter Molnar (University of Colorado at Boulder), Brad Hager (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)), Tom Herring (MIT).

Funding:Otago University Research Grant, PGSF through the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) Natural Hazards programme, National Science Foundation through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).

Publications:

Denys, P., M. Denham and C. Pearson, C. . (2007) "A geodetic measurement of strain variation across the central Southern Alps, New Zealand", in Dynamic Planet - Monitoring and Understanding a Dynamic Planet with Geodetic and Oceanographic Tools, Tregoning, P. and C. Rizos (Eds.), IAG Symposium, 22-26 August 2005, Cairns, Australia. Vol.130, p445-452

Beavan, J., Matheson, D., Denys, P., Denham, M., Herring, T., Hager B. and Molnar, P. A (2004) "Vertical deformation profile across the Southern Alps, New Zealand, from 3.5 years of continuous GPS data", in The state of GPS vertical positioning precision: Separation of earth processes by space geodesy (ed) T. van Dam and O. Francis, 23:111-123.

Presentations:

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Hager, B., Molnar, P. and Herring, T. (2005) Measuring mountain uplift using continuous GPS. In Program and Abstract Book, Dynamic Planet 2005, Cairns, Australia. 250p.

Denys, P. (2004) Strain variation in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand, In Proceedings of the Eos Trans. AGU, 85 (28), Western Pacific. Geophys. Meet. Suppl., Abstract T34A-04

Denys, P., Denham, M., Beavan, J. and Matheson, D. (2003) Seasonal crustal motions detected using Continuous GPS. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Geophysical Society Annual Symposium. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.

Beavan, J., Denham, M., Denys, P., Hager, B., Herring, T., Kurnik, C., Matheson, D., Molnar, P., Pearson, C., (2002) A Direct Geodetic Measurement of the Uplift Rate of the Southern Alps, In Proceedings of the Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(22), Western Pacific Geophys. Meet. Suppl., Abstract SE31D-01.

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Bilham, R., Hager, B., Herring, T., Kurnik, C., Molnar, P. and Pearson, C., (2000) The Southern Alps geodetic experiment (SAGENZ): Combining GPS and absolute gravity to measure vertical deformation in New Zealand. In Proceedings of the Eos Transactions AGU, 81(47) Fall Meeting Suppl. T21F-03. San Francisco, American Geophysical Union

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Bilham, R., Hager, B., Herring, T., Kurnik, C., Molnar, P. and Pearson, C., (2000) The Southern Alps geodetic experiment (SAGENZ): Measuring vertical deformation in New Zealand using GPS and absolute gravity. In Proceedings of the Geological Society of New Zealand and New Zealand Geophysical Society Joint Annual Conference. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.

Researcher: Paul Denys

Abstract: Sea level rise is a topic of international interest due to its relationship with global warming. Sea level records at tide gauges can date back over 150 years and therefore provide an extremely important long term record of sea level. Unfortunately, tide gauge records only monitor the relative measurement between sea level and local benchmarks and can not account for regional vertical motion such as those caused by tectonic processes. These effects are obviously important the closer a tide gauge site is to a tectonic plate boundary.

GPS is being used to monitor four long record tide gauge sites in New Zealand. Each GPS site is located in the vicinity of the tide gauge. A levelling tie has been carried out between the GPS monument and the tide gauge. In addition, the long term stability of each GPS site is monitored using a nearby GPS receiver, which is typically within 10km of the CGPS@TG site.

Collaborators:John Beavan (GNS Science), Peter Molnar (University of Colorado at Boulder), Brad Hager (MIT), Tom Herring (MIT)

Funding: PGSF through the GNS Science Plate Tectonic Program

Publications and Presentations:

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Matheson, D., Denham, M., Pearson, C. and Hannah J. (2002) "Correcting New Zealand's long-term sea level records for tectonic uplift using continuous GPS observations", in Proceedings of the Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(22), Western Pacific Geophys. Meet. Suppl., Abstract SE42E-03.

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Pearson, C. and McSaveney, M., (1999) "Sea level change based on New Zealand's long term tide gauges" in Proceedings of the New Zealand Geophysical Society and Meteorlogical Society of New Zealand Joint Annual Conference. Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

Denys, P.H. and Hannah, J., (1998) "GPS and sea level measurements in New Zealand", GLOSS Programme, Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, 20-24^th July, Taiwan.

Researcher: Paul Denys

Abstract: A study undertaken in Central Otago demonstrated that the range fronts in the region exhibited distributed deformation, although no continuous range-scale surface ruptures were evident. In addition, GPS campaign data spanning some 10 years indicated broad scale contraction rates in the order of 1-2 mm/year. These contraction rates are roughly perpendicular to the strike of the faults and are consistent with the long-term contraction across the region based on fault displacement.

One of the conclusions drawn from the study was that the geological and geodetic data showed that East Otago should be viewed as a potentially active seismic region. While there is evidence of widespread activity during the Holocene on the East Otago geological structures, it is possible that the seismic hazard is higher in this region than previously thought.

The Central Otago Deformation (COD) network was initially establish in June 2004 with 6 marks and was later densified with an additional 14 marks. As we are attempting to measure extremely small contraction rates, the network has been designed for high accuracy and ease of deployment. All marks are force centred to minimize equipment (no surveying tripods) and are at sites that are secure and accessible with a 2 wheel drive vehicle. The network is observed as a GNSS campaign network at least twice a year with site occupation of between 4-7 days in order to reduce the effect of atmospheric biases through precise modelling.

Collaborators: John Bevan (GNS Science)

Funding: PGSF through the GNS Science Natural Hazard Programme.

Publication:

Denys, P., M. Denham and J. Beavan (2007) "The Central Otago Deformation (COD) network", Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publications 123A: 41

Researcher: Paul Denys

Abstract: In August 2003, a M_w 7.2 earthquake caused horizontal displacements of up to 18cm in Fiordland, New Zealand. Earthquakes of this magnitude will destroy and/or distort the geodetic infrastructure, which must be updated to take account of the surface displacements.

To account for land movement, the LINZ National Deformation Model (NDM) has been adapted to account for regional and local deformation events, with the view of incorporating such models into the national geodetic datum. Following the Fiordland earthquake, GPS was used to measure the co-seismic displacements in August 2003 at 11 sites surrounding the epicentre. Since then, 5 post seismic surveys have been carried out between January 2004 and December 2007. This data has been used to integrate the Fiordland earthquake into the NZGD2000 data and to test the concept.

Collaborators: Aaron Jordan (LINZ), John Beavan (GNS Science)

Funding: Land Information New Zealand, School of Surveying Performance Based Research Fund grant, PGSF through the GNS Science Plate Tectonic Program.

Publications:

Jordan, A., P. Denys, and G. Blick (2007) "Implementing localised deformation models into a semi-dynamic datum", in Dynamic Planet - Monitoring and Understanding a Dynamic Planet with Geodetic and Oceanographic Tools, Tregoning, P. and C. Rizos (eds.), IAG Symposium, 22-26 August 2005, Cairns, Australia, 130, 631-637.

Denys, P., Winefield, R. and A Jordan (2007) "Incorporating localised deformation events in dynamic datums" in Proceedings FIG Working Week, Hong Kong, SAR, China, 13-17^th May.

Beavan_, J., Matheson, D., Denys, P., Miller, C. (2003) "Fault parameters of Fiordland M_w7.1 earthquake from dislocation modelling of GPS data" in Proceedings of the Geological Society of New Zealand Annual Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Winefield, R. and P. Denys, Evaluation of the Land Information Fiordland Dislocation Model. . In Proceedings of the 9^th South-East Asian Survey Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, October. 64pp (2007).

Researcher: John Hannah

Abstract: This is a collaborative programme, funded by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS), which looks at the overall mobility of the New Zealand coastline. As part of the project Otago University has GPS receivers located at the Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin tide-gauges, monitoring their vertical movement. Analysis of the GPS data and reconstruction and analysis of the sea level records is undertaken. The project includes data-mining and analysis at other tide gauges with the aim of creating the longest possible records of reliable sea level data.

Collaborators: Paul Denys, University of Otago, John Beaven GNS.

Publications:

Hannah, J., and Bell, R. (2007) "Sea Level Rise", in "Our Oceans" ENZ-07 State of the Environment Report, Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand Government, Wellington.

Dewar, P., and Hannah, J. (2005) "An Assessment of the Accuracy of Three Tidal Datum Transfer Procedures in a Harbour Environment" The Hydrographic Journal, 117, 3-7.

Hannah, J. (2004) "An Updated Analysis of Long Term Sea level Change in New Zealand".  Geophysical Research Letters, 31, L03307, 4 pp.

Hannah, J. (1998) "Sea Level Monitoring in New Zealand" Status Report for the National Science Strategy Committee for Climate Change.

Hannah, J. (2003) "An Updated Analysis of Sea Level Change in New Zealand and its Impact Upon Coastal Zone Management Policies", Proceedings of the New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, University of Auckland, 73-76.

Hannah, J. (1999) "Sea Level Rise and its Impact on New Zealand's Coastal Zone: a Status Report", Proceedings of the NZ Institute of Surveyors Conference, Paihia, New Zealand, 9-15^th October.

Presentations:

Hannah, J. (2007) "Sea Level Change in New Zealand – Spatial Impacts form a Surveyor's Perspective". Keynote address, Spatial Information Research Centre Conference, University of Dunedin, December 7^th.

Hannah, J. and Rummel R. (2007) "Geodesy: Its role in supporting sustainable societies". Plenary session address, 9^th SE Asian Surveyors Congress/6^th TransTasman Surveyors Congress/119^th NZ Institute of Surveyors Conference, Christchurch 30^th Oct.-2^nd November.

Hannah, J. (2004) The Problems and Challenges of Using Tide Gauges to Monitor Long-Term Sea Level Change, Invited paper, Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, 1^st Annual Meeting, Singapore, 5-9^th July.

Hannah, J. (2002) An Updated Analysis of Sea Level Change in New Zealand. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(22), Western Pacific Geophysical Meeting, Abstract OS51C-02, Wellington, July 9–12^th.

Denys, P., Beavan, J., Matheson, D., Denham, M., Pearson, C., Hannah, J. (2002) Correcting New Zealand's Long Term Sea Level Records for Tectonic Uplift Using Continuous GPS Observations. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(22), Abstract SE42E-03, Western Pacific Geophysical Meeting, Wellington, July 9–12^th.

Other Activities:

2005-2006 Expert Reviewer, IPCC Working Group 2, Fourth Assessment report, Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.

Researcher: G. Brent Hall

Abstract:

This project uses the theme of community sustainability in two types of settings, namely declining former resource towns and development-induced land use pressure in growth centres, in three locations across central and western Canada. The general goals of the network are to develop spatial decision support tools based on components of Internet-based open source software; to use these tools in flexible delivery and use settings; and to engage planners and members of the public at large in using, evaluating and retooling the tools with a view to embedding the tools formally into planning practice.

Collaborators: Dr. Rob Feick, University of Waterloo, Canada, Dr. Jacek Malczewski, University of Western Ontario, Canada, Dr. Claus Rinner, Ryerson University, Canada, Dr, Piotr Jankowski, San Diego State University, United States, Dr. Suzana Dragicevic, Simon Fraser University, Canada, Dr. Ray Chipeniuk, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Steven Roberts, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.

Funding: Geographic Information for Informed Decisions (GEOIDE) National Centres of Excellence Program, Canada 2004 – 2009; Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Publications:

Hall, G. Brent (2008) "Open Source Approaches to Spatial Data Handling", Advances in GIScience, Springer, New York, forthcoming.

Hall, G. Brent and M. G. Leahy (2008) "Design and implementation of a map-centred synchronous collaboration tool using open source components: the MapChat project" in G. Brent Hall (ed) "Open Source approaches to spatial data handling", Springer, New York, forthcoming.

Hall, G. Brent (2008) "Public engagement in land-related decision issues", New Zealand Surveyor, forthcoming.

Hall, G. Brent, Juan Alperin, S. Kerrigan Leone, (2008) "El uso de Internet con software libre y fuentes espaciales abiertas para colaborar en la toma de decisiones", GeoFocus, forthcoming.

Presentations:

Hall, G. Brent (2007) "Public engagement in land-related decision issues", 9^th South East Asian Survey Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand, 30^th October – 2^nd November.

R. D. Feick, G. Brent Hall and M. G. Leahy (2007) "MapChat – a tool for map-based collaboration and communication", Quebec 2007 Histoire de voir le monde, Geocongress International, 2^nd – 5^th October.

Hall, G. Brent, Juan Alperin, M. G. Leahy (2007) "El Uso del Internet con software libre y fuentes abiertas espaciales para asistir en la toma de decisiones", paper presented at the XI Conferencia Iboamericana de Sistemas de Informacion Geografica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 29th – 31st May.

Leahy, Michael, G. Brent Hall, David Findlay, Taylor Nichols, R. D. Feick (2006) "Implementation of Synchronous, Spatially-Referenced Discussions Between Multiple Users with Open-Source Web GIS and Database Tools", FOSS4G2006 Free and Open Source Software for Geoinformatics Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, 11^th – 15^th September.

Researchers: G. Brent Hall and Geoff Hay

Abstract: This is the first phase of a potential multi-year project to develop a functional Open Source solution to land records management in developing countries. The intention of the project is to design at a high level the database schema for an OS cadastre and land registration shell that integrates parcel mapping along with records management. In this phase a detailed design and associated documentation will be produced and an international workshop will be held at the University of Otago in May, 2008 to establish a basis for needs assessment as well as identify candidate countries to pilot the software that will be developed during phase two of the projct.

Collaborators: Gertudy Pieper, FM-International Oy FINNMAP; Mika Törhönen, Land and Water Division, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Funding: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), University of Otago Research Grant.

Publications and Presentations:

Hay, G., & Hall, G. B. (2009). Architecture for an Open Source Semantic Spatio-Temporal Land Administration Application. FIG Working Week. Eilat, Israel Submitted 10/11/2008: International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).

Hay, G., Leahy, M., & Hall, G. B. (2008). Sustainable Tools for Land Administration - Part 2 Open Source Cadastral Application. Free/Libre Open Source Cadastre and Land Registration Shell Seminar. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand May 8-9.

Conference Proceedings

Hay, G., Hall, G. Brent, Leahy, M. G., Goodwin, D. P., McKinnon, D. and G. Pieper. (2008). An open source software solution for land records management in developing nations. In GeoCart2008 and 20th Annual SIRC Colloqium. University of Auckland 1-3 September.

Report

Hall, G. B., Hay, G., Leahy, M., Pieper, G., Goodwin, D., & McKinnon, D. (2008). FAO-FLOSS Project - Final Report. FAO. https://source.otago.ac.nz/oscar/OSCAR_Architecture2