Tiny Tech – Big Impact: Enabling Stable Communities

Tiny Tech – Big Impact: Enabling stable communities.

A collaborative event hosted by Beca and the University of Otago

Beca will share how they apply technology to support resilience and stability for businesses and communities in Aotearoa and will describe the challenges they face in their work.

University of Otago researchers will illustrate how their work could hold the key to resolving these challenges to deliver real, positive impact for New Zealanders and the world.

When: Wednesday 20th May 5-7pm.

Where: Otago Business School Atrium, corner of Clyde St and Union Place East

You are invited to an engaging event to hear about technologies that become critical when infrastructure is stressed by earthquakes, storms or floods. Technologies that come together to help communities, infrastructure owners and decision‑makers act with confidence.

Beca’s panel will ground the event in real‑world impact, showcasing how advanced technology is already transforming infrastructure and asset management across New Zealand and Australia. Through short videos and expert insights, Beca will highlight live, field‑deployed solutions—including digital twins, smart seismic monitoring, AI‑enabled geotechnical data platforms, and automated building optimisation. The session will unpack the sensors, communications networks, data platforms, and analytics that make these tools work at scale, while openly discussing current capability gaps and future challenges. This sets the stage for collaboration between industry and researchers, shaping the next generation of infrastructure technology.

The University of Otago researchers will share some social science insights on the design and adoption of technologies and highlight how tiny technologies enable big gains in resilience and decision‑making. Researchers will share work on emerging photonic and quantum technologies that underpin robust sensing, secure communication and powerful computation; how improved sensing, imaging and data interpretation translate physical measurements into clear, timely insights; describe future low‑carbon fuels supporting resilient energy systems and green hydrogen pathways.

Optional lab tours will begin at 4:30pm, with attendees meeting at the Otago Business School Atrium. Spaces are limited, and final capacity will be confirmed. Event details may be updated once lab tour numbers are finalised.