Month / November 2014

by Jelenko Dragisic

‘Yasi’ comes to Townsville: a “hypothetical”

ABC Big Ideas’ presenter and producer Paul Barclay shared this interesting initiative by Green Cross Australia.  The idea of a hypothetical scenario which is being discussed by a range of experts and professionals including the Queensland’s Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience David Crisafulli.  Global Resilience Collaborative would like to share this with broader public and resilience specialist alike. 

 

Satellite image of Cyclone Yasi on 2 February near peak intensity. Image: wikipedia

Satellite image of Cyclone Yasi on 2 February near peak intensity.
Image: wikipedia

It is tropical cyclone season in Australia: the time of year when those in northern Australia are alert to the possibility of potentially devastating cyclones and storm surges. What would happen if a massive cyclone like 2011’s Cyclone Yasi hit Townsville head on? How well prepared is the city? This is a “hypothetical” discussion about building resilience against extreme weather events. While the scenario constructed is entirely made up, history suggests it’s certainly not out of the question…READ ON

by Jelenko Dragisic

Let’s talk about water. Serioulsy

North Sea Flood of 1953 was a game changer...

North Sea Flood of 1953 was a game changer…

The Dutch have been regarded as people who know a thing or two about water.  The third of nation is at the sea level.  The other two are below it.  So, when it comes to managing floods and making the entire country resilient we should all listen the Dutch experts like Henk Ovink.  Global Resilience Collaborative is happy to share this find.

 

What Henk Ovink Thinks: The Dutch idea-guy ponders Hoboken’s flooding problem

Perched on a stool next to a large window at the downtown Starbucks in Hoboken, Dutch water expert Henk Ovink turns his intense gaze to the sidewalk outside. “Look at the pavement,” he says. “Do you see any capacity to hold water?” Ovink is possibly the Netherlands’ most valued export at the moment. With rising sea levels and booming waterfront development occurring all over the world, his expertise in urban planning in a country built on a river delta is in high demand. Luckily for Hoboken, once an island surrounded by marsh but now filled in and urbanized, Ovink is currently working with the federal government to help the entire New York metropolitan area rethink how to live close to the water. As for Hoboken’s sidewalks, they in fact have no capacity to hold water. The problem is emblematic of the city’s larger water issues, which came to a head during the infamous Hurricane Sandy…

 

by Jelenko Dragisic

How Typhoon Nuri is changing the weather forecast in North America

Everything is connected.  Everything can seem simple but in fact can be very complex.  The following article we gleaned on Mashable is really interesting.  Apart from interesting science it is also very good insight into the way businesses, communities and cities can start to think about resilience future.

Near-term forecasts of the North Pacific jet stream, showing a stronger, sharper jet stream (red colors indicate stronger winds) across the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Near-term forecasts of the North Pacific jet stream, showing a stronger, sharper jet stream (red colors indicate stronger winds) across the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Typhoon Nuri, which was one of the two strongest storms on Earth so far this year, is going to help bring another shot of cold, Arctic air to the Midwest and East Coast later this week. That a typhoon near Japan could have a ripple effect on the weather in Detroit and New York just a few days later may be difficult to fathom, but it illustrates the myriad ways in which the world is an interconnected place…

by Jelenko Dragisic

How cities embrace resilience: Minneapolis Has a Plan for the Most Resilient Neighborhood in the Country

We recently learned about a project called “PROSPECT NORTH” which is all about making city of Minneapolis resilient.  If successful the city will be see its citizens thrive.  The article first appeared at Next City. 

cities

For Minneapolis, climate change will most likely lead to wetter, hotter years by mid-century, with annual temperatures rising as much as 5 degrees. Unfortunately, like most cities, its pipes, sewers and even electricity were laid for very different weather. Adapting could require the ability to disconnect from that grid — which is exactly what the planners of one futuristic neighborhood propose to do…read on