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Ways Christchurch City Council is leveraging innovative solutions to shape the city will be showcased to the community this week.

The Christchurch City Innovation Evening, part of Techweek25, will feature Council staff at the forefront of technological advancements and innovation in their respective fields. It is being held on Thursday 22 May at Tūranga (Central Library).

One of the presentations will be by transport staff, who will share work underway to create an online tool that sorts big data to help prioritise transport projects across the city.

Transport Planning and Delivery Manager Jacob Bradbury says it is critical that good data is being used to drive decisions about Council projects.

“We are creating an assessment and prioritisation tool that fairly assesses data against selected criteria – in a way that humans alone cannot do because of the sheer amount of information there is to process.

“The tool will help prioritise the work we do to resurface or rehabilitate roads, as well as our street reconstruction projects.”

Development of the software is being carried out in partnership with Civil engineering company Pinnacles Civil Christchurch, with the final stages of data collection and algorithm testing now being carried out. The aim is to have the tool in place for the next Annual Plan review and to develop a 10-year forward work programmes for the draft Long-Term Plan in 2027/37.

In recent years the Council has invested in accessing more informative data and the prioritisation tool is the next step in using that information more effectively to save money for ratepayers and improve our assets.

“For example, we carried out deflection laser measuring of the city’s streets last year to help us understand what the pavement beneath them is like. We don’t want to resurface roads that then fail prematurely because the structures underneath them are not strong enough to last.

“This tool will help us evaluate good data, like the laser measurements, to make better decisions about the work we do, when we do it, and how it should be carried out.”

Other speakers at the innovation evening also include archivists giving insights into the self-guided living history walk around the city that the Council launched last year.

Innovation and Improvement Manager Michael Healy says everyone is welcome to attend and learn about the cutting-edge projects and technologies being implemented to enhance urban living and foster a smarter, more connected city.

“Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a community member, or simply curious about the future of our city, this event offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with like-minded individuals,” Mr Healy says.

Register for this free ticketed event. Doors open at 4.30pm. The programme runs from 5pm until 6.10pm followed by a networking event.