New mapping tool shows how connections build resilience before disaster strikes

When the Black Summer bushfires tore through Kangaroo Island in 2019/2020, local business owner Fiona Jago didn’t know how connected her community really was – or how much those connections would matter. 

As flames surrounded her caravan park, Fiona’s business became an informal gathering point for employees, neighbours and travellers. People shared food, information and comfort in every space they could find.  

“We had very little information coming through and as one of only a few businesses in the area, we quickly became the trusted voice of evacuation and survival,” Fiona said.  

“This is when I realised just how important connections with other people are.” 

Now, a world-first Australian innovation is helping communities and governments see those invisible connections before disaster strikes.   

Developed by social enterprise Resilient Ready in collaboration with global disaster resilience expert Professor Daniel Aldrich, Australia now has a new National Social Capital + Social Infrastructure Measurement Framework. 

This provides a national way to describe, measure and value the invisible infrastructure within our communities, being the how people connect and where those connections happen.  

An accompanying online mapping tool, Sociabli, turns that data into interactive maps that reveal the strength of community connections and the density of places and space that support connections to be made – in a world-first, at the SA1 neighbourhood level.   

By visualising these human networks, communities and government can identify where connections are strong and where more support is needed before emergencies occur.  

“Connection is our most powerful form of preparedness,” said Renae Hanvin, CEO of Resilient Ready.  

“We now have the evidence to show where community connections are strong and where they need support to reduce risks and build resilience, long before the next disaster happens.”   “What’s more, our connections data is at the SA1 or neighbourhood level – which is the lowest statistical measurement – which is different to most other data sources at a national or regional level.”

(l-r) Global social capital expert Professor Daniel Aldrich and Resilient Ready CEO Renae Hanvin in a community playground

This initiative was funded through the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) Round 2 and piloted in three South Australian communities – Adelaide City, Whyalla and Kangaroo Island with a national advisory group led by the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM). 

“It’s rare to see a country take global research and rigorously test it against such diverse local realities,” said Professor Daniel Aldrich, global resilience expert and academic partner om the project.  

“Validating the framework in the three Australian pilot communities gives us confidence that this model can guide preparedness and investment worldwide.” 

Adelaide City data revealed “dead zones” where connections are low due to residents not engaging with each other or visiting local places of connection (i.e. cafes and pubs) as many are international students who spend most of their time studying rather than visiting places of connection.   

In Whyalla, the data revealed strong close-knit networks (bonding ties) but fewer links between different community groups (bridging ties) which was validated by qualitative surveys conducted by local engagement experts Corporate Connect.AB.    

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m impressed. This data will help us build greater resilience across Whyalla in the good times in preparation for the hard times ahead,” said Whyalla Mayor, Phill Stone.  

On Kangaroo Island, the mapping confirmed what locals like Fiona already knew: that caravan parks and community halls act as vital lifelines during crises and should be part of every local preparedness plan.  

“Our research shows that strong social networks are as critical as roads or levees, yet currently the funding and focus is not on connecting the people,” said Professor Aldrich.   

“Australia now has a big opportunity to scale this nationally and embed social capital and social infrastructure into disaster risk reduction and resilience – strengthening its focus on saving lives and livelihoods.” 

Visit sociabli.resilientready.org to access:  

• National Social Capital + Social Infrastructure Measurement Framework 

• Social Capital descriptor and video 

• Social Infrastructure descriptor and video 

• Sociabli, online mapping tool including data for the three pilot communities  

This Creating a Social Capital + Social Infrastructure Measurement Framework to benefit every Australian project received funding from the Australian Government.