HAZUS Goes to Singapore

The HAZUS program recently announced that National University of Singapore  will begin a HAZUS pilot study.  Find below the official news release:

"We're very proud to announce that the National University in Singapore (NUS) has received approval to conduct a HAZUS pilot study.   This is a significant accomplishment for the HAZUS program and we are hopeful that this will lead to further use of  HAZUS in Singapore.

Earlier this year, the NUS was asked to perform a study for the government of Singapore on sea level rise using loss estimation methodology. After researching the best methodologies and tools available, the NUS concluded that HAZUS deserved looking into further. NUS representatives then worked with FEMA to arrange for face to face meetings with members of the HAZUS program team.

Eric Berman, HAZUS Program Manager, Philip Moore of the Emergency Management Institute and Kevin Mickey from The Polis Center visited NUS in November to provide additional information on the HAZUS software. Their presentation, which included a HAZUS workshop and demonstration of the HAZUS methodology, was attended by government representatives from Singapore, NUS and other local academic institutions. As a result of these meetings, NUS decided to pilot the use of HAZUS for their study.  

A leading international university centered in Asia, NUS offers a global approach to education and research. Its transformative education program includes a broad-based curriculum with over 36,000 students from 100 countries.

The HAZUS Program Team looks forward to increased opportunities to work with HAZUS internationally. This visit to Singapore follows the signing of an agreement between the U.S. and Canada in August to provide HAZUS software to Canada."


Comment:  The interest shown in HAZUS by both Singapore and Canada is great news.  The greater the involvement by organizations with diverse perspectives, the better the HAZUS product will be for all.