A barrage of floods in Australia and record-breaking rain in New Zealand are devastating usually resilient communities—and slugging insurers.
The severity and frequency of devastation also call into question the design of cities meant to keep millions of citizens out of harm’s way.
Global design firm Arup has used artificial intelligence tools to study eight major international cities, including New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland, to give them a so-called sponge rating.
Arup found the urban centre of Sydney was the least “sponge-like,” or naturally able to absorb rainwater, of the eight cities.
Auckland ranked top, at 35 percent “sponginess,” based on the modelling of its stormwater systems and extensive green space….