GeoNet promises two-minute quake response on 'Rapid' site
GNS agency re-tools to take humans out of the process.
GNS Science's GeoNet - the government's official provider of earthquake information - is launching a test version of a new website this morning.
Called "GeoNet Rapid", it promises information about major quakes around two minutes after they occur, rather than the previous 15 to 20 minutes - a delay that has been the subject of complaints from some after the Christchurch quakes.
The time has been honed by removing humans from the process. Quake reporting will now be fully-automated, albeit with a seismologist "blessing" the data on a delay of about 15 miutes.
It also pledges that region-specific information will be easier to find, and rolling updates made easier to follow.
GeoNet warns there could be teething problems with the beta (test) version of the Rapid site launched today.
As well as information being made available to the general public more quickly, GeoNet is beefing up the hardware behind its service.
Partner FX Networks is adding two new web servers in Christchurch (meaning less data traffic will have to take a round trip to Auckland during peak load times).
It has also commissioned two new web servers in the US to replace a "single, aging" server in California.
GeoNet Rapid should go live later this morning at beta.geonet.org.nz.
NBR staff
Tue, 06 Mar 2012
Tue, 06 Mar 2012
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GeoNet promises two-minute quake response on 'Rapid' site
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