This presentation will showcase the innovative application of open-source geospatial and participatory methods in the "National surveys for infrastructure resilience geospatial databases to support exposure and hazard modelling for Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Tonga" project. This project addresses urgent needs in the Pacific, in terms of the lack of comprehensive, up-to-date data on buildings, roads, and critical infrastructure, and the need for robust hazard and exposure models to inform disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

Through extensive field surveys, local teams from various government ministries were trained and supported by SPC, with the assistance of existing technical staff in the country, to collect detailed geotagged data on infrastructure assets, buildings, and information on roads, bridges, and utilities. These datasets are validated, cleaned, and uploaded to the country level or regional open-source geodatabases, ensuring accessibility and long-term sustainability.

Open-source tools, including QGIS, QField, and Kobo Toolbox, were utilized for data collection. The approach emphasizes capacity building, with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion. The data collected and the results of the geospatial databases and hazard models (for cyclone, floods, sea-level-rise) directly support the government in planning resilient infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and advocating for loss and damage funding.
By leveraging open-source methods, the project promotes sustainable, scalable, and locally adaptable approaches to resilience planning in the Pacific.