Earthquake design standards seek to ensure that structures are adequately resilient to local hazard. The probabilistic hazard that forms the basis of the design loadings used and the methods by which they are calculated typically reflect the best available information and practices at the time. This was the case with the earthquake loadings standard for the design of PNG buildings that was published in 1982. However, with the collaborative development of a better understanding of earthquake hazard across PNG the need to adjust the earthquake loadings for design through an Interim Amendment was highlighted. This key step would precede any more general and broader update of national building regulations. In this paper the process taken to translate the latest earthquake hazard assessment for PNG, PSHA19, to design practice is described. This included an assessment of the level of current under-design and the engagement with stakeholders in PNG to assess their needs through workshop activity. The central document to this process, “The Interim Amendment to PNGS 1001-1982: Part 4: Earthquake Design Actions”, is described and goes beyond the incorporation of the new design hazard to the introduction of new approaches for assessing earthquake loads that more closely align with those used in New Zealand and Australia. Preparation and delivery of seminars in-country to familiarise design professionals with its use are also described along with the series of professional development video products also developed for use in PNG. Finally, future needs in regulatory development in PNG are outlined. Presented at the 2023 Australian Earthquake Engineering Society (AEES) National Conference

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade) challenges the ocean research community to map and understand the changing ocean to inform and stimulate social and economic development, while conserving marine ecosystems. To achieve these objectives, the methodologies that generate data and information about the ocean need to interoperate with unprecedented depth and scale. For this, we must expand global participation in ocean science through a new and coherent approach to best practice development, supporting capacity development and sharing across a dramatically expanded range of communities. Here, we present perspectives on this issue gleaned from the ongoing development of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS). The OBPS is collaborating with individuals and programs around the world to transform the way ocean methodologies are managed, in strong alignment with the Outcomes envisioned by the Ocean Decade. However, significant challenges remain. These include the haphazard management of methodologies across their life cycle, the ambiguous endorsement of what is “best” and when/where, and the inconsistent access to best practices across disciplines and cultures. To help address these challenges, this Perspective recommends how we - as a global marine science community - can ensure our methodological know-how supports the Ocean Decade outcomes through: promoting convergence of methodologies into context-dependent best practices; incorporating contextualized best practices into Ocean Decade Actions; clarifying who endorses which method and why; creating a global network of complementary ocean practices systems; and ensuring broader consistency and flexibility in international capacity development. <b>Citation:</b> Pearlman J, Buttigieg PL, Bushnell M, Delgado C, Hermes J, Heslop E, Hörstmann C, Isensee K, Karstensen J, Lambert A, Lara-Lopez A, Muller-Karger F, Munoz Mas C, Pearlman F, Pissierssens P, Przeslawski R, Simpson P, van Stavel J and Venkatesan R (2021) Evolving and Sustaining Ocean Best Practices to Enable Interoperability in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:619685. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.619685

Development of a data policy and ensuring its uptake is not a trivial task within any organisation. There are many surrounding factors that may help or hinder the acceptance and imbedding of policies. Preparation and development of Geoscience Australia’s (GA) Data Strategy and Data Stewardship Policy required a combined understanding and knowledge of political, stakeholder, geoinformatics and technological landscapes external to the organisation, and an internal understanding of a vast amount of multi-disciplinary data assets and their champions within GA. Externally, from an international perspective, any data policy needs to take into account: - Regulations and compliance requirements (FAIR Principles and Trusted repositories), - Supporting data interoperability geoinformatics developments (common ontological information models, vocabularies and content standards (ISO, OGC, W3C)); - Technology trends (semantic web, machine learning, block chain); and - How these may interrelate to each other. From an Australian perspective, any GA data policy must: - Maintain a high level awareness of changes in Government priorities and policies (Australian Government Data Policy, Digital Continuity 2020); - Similar developments within other Government organisations; - Understand GA stakeholders and their roles in supporting delivery of GA goals and outcomes: the influencers, partners and consumers and how GA can communicate its Data Policy to them. Internally, to ensure the Strategy implementation, GA needs to: - Build a strong support base from executives, managers and data champions to ensure adoption of the strategy and funding; - Develop an architecture to sustain the implementation; - Ensure technological support through expert geoinformatics and Multi-Disciplinary-Teams; - Educate staff to ensure they have adequate competencies to comply with the policy. The GA Data Strategy is accompanied by a three year roadmap, which includes developing methodologies and frameworks to: - Streamline data processes, systems and tools; - Embed best practice data management; - Encourage and reward data management; - Develop data capabilities; - Strengthen and embed Data Governance. Realisation of this work is essential for GA to achieve its main goal of maximising geoscientific data potential to serve Australia.

<div>Maps of seabed geomorphology derived from bathymetry data provide foundational information that is used to support the sustainable use of the marine environment across a range of activities that contribute to the Blue Economy. The global recognition of the value of the Blue Economy and several key global initiatives, notably the Seabed 2030 project to map the global ocean and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, are driving the proliferation and open dissemination of these data and derived map products. To effectively support these global efforts, geomorphic characterisation of the seabed requires standardized multi-scalar and interjurisdictional approaches that can be applied locally, regionally and internationally. This document describes and illustrates a geomorphic lexicon for the full range of coastal to deep ocean geomorphic Settings and related Processes that drive the formation, modification and preservation of geomorphic units on the seabed. Terms and Settings/Processes have been selected from the literature and structured to balance established terminology with the need for consistency between the range of geomorphic Settings. This document also presents a glossary of the terms and identifies the insights that can be gained by mapping each unit type, from an applied perspective.</div> <b>Citation:</b> Nanson, Rachel, Arosio, Riccardo, Gafeira, Joana, McNeil, Mardi, Dove, Dayton, Bjarnadóttir, Lilja, Dolan, Margaret, Guinan, Janine, Post, Alix, Webb, John, & Nichol, Scott. (2023). <i>A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 2: Geomorphology classification framework and glossary (Version 1.0) (1.0).</i> Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7804019

This dataset provides geospatial representation of the Australian wind regions defined in AS/NZS 1170.2 (2021) Structural Design Actions Part 2: wind actions (hereafter “Standard”). The dataset is intended to assist in delineating areas for referencing the Standard – for example in assigning building vulnerability models across the country. The dataset represents Geoscience Australia's interpretation of the definitions set out in the Standard and is intended for internal use only. This dataset is not suitable for design purposes: professional designers should refer to the Standard for assessing the wind region for their projects. In the event of any inconsistency between this dataset and Figure 3.1 in the Standard, the Standard will take precedence. This product has not been formally endorsed by Standards Australia or the relevant Working Groups and subcommittees. References to localities are indicative and use the best available information at the time of production. For further information on this dataset, please contact hazards@ga.gov.au.