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Increased use of technology such as trail cameras and artificial intelligence is being used by Auckland Council as it bids to improve its readiness for floods, storms and other natural disasters.
In the wake of last year’s devastating Anniversary Weekend floods, Cyclone Gabrielle and other storms, council has already committed to a 10-year, $760 million Making Space for Water (MSFW) programme as part of its latest Long-term Plan.
Key initiatives in that include culvert and bridge upgrades, overland flow path management, increased maintenance, creating more efficient ‘blue-green’ stormwater networks in critical flood-risk areas, and “flood intelligence” – investment in planning and modelling tools to enhance decision-making.
Council’s head of planning for water, Nick Vigar, says using intelligent infrastructure and technology wherever possible is a vital part of the commitment to making Auckland safer and more resilient to flooding.
“This technology is a core component of the flood intelligence initiative under MSFW, focusing on upgrading existing tools and incorporating new technologies for better planning, monitoring and modelling of flood risks,” he said.
The initiative includes placing solar-powered trail cameras, or “virtual eyes”, at key stormwater sites, with artificial intelligence used to monitor and analyse images for changes in water levels, flow and potential debris blockages.
The analysed images are sent to council stormwater specialists for fact-checking, who then send alerts to contractors for investigation.
The cameras are designed to monitor critical stormwater infrastructure, such as inlets, concrete channels, culverts, pipes, grates and grilles, providing early detection and reduced response times, and therefore helping to minimise flood damage.
“These cameras help us detect potential blockages and manage flood risks where the rapid build-up of water can pose a significant risk,” Vigar says.
The chair of council’s planning, environment and parks committee, Councillor Richard Hills, says as AI technology advances, benefits will grow, providing more accurate data, faster response times and enhanced predictive capabilities.
“These AI-equipped cameras are a game-changer, providing data that vastly improves our operational capabilities, enabling quicker interventions and more proactive maintenance of our stormwater infrastructure,” he says.
Following a successful trial two years ago, 23 cameras have so far been installed, with another 27 due to be in place by the end of the year. However, at this stage, none are due to be sited in Rodney.
“The virtual eyes initiative is predominantly focused on blockage risk, which is more of an urban phenomenon, as is high flood risk, more generally,” Vigar claims. “While there are currently no plans to install these cameras north of Silverdale, we are actively working on other flood resilience projects in the Rodney area.”
These include:
• Clearing work, including removing debris and vegetation in key rural streams throughout Rodney.
• Extensive flood modelling to better understand catchment-level flood mitigation options.
• Workshops in Matakana and Kaukapakapa to share ideas with rural landowners about creating more flood-resilient land and protecting streams and rivers.
• Running public education campaigns through libraries on preparing for floods and working with local organisations to deliver stream improvement projects.
• Developing a specific approach to meet the water and access needs of rural communities, including marae, by improving water, wastewater systems and roads to better handle storms.
“This includes working closely with these communities to ensure they are prepared and can quickly recover from flooding,” Vigar says.
He adds that Aucklanders can look forward to enhanced flood management that is not only effective, but also sustainable, ensuring the entire region’s preparedness for adverse weather conditions in future.
