New NUS centre to study effects of natural disasters
Teo Xuanwei, Today Online 23 Nov 07;
OUR buildings may shake when earthquakes occur in the region, but it is "highly unlikely" they will fall. But would they be safe years down the road?
That is what the new Centre for Hazards Research at the National University of Singapore aims to find out.
Launched yesterday, the centre will study the short- and long-term effects of natural disasters on structures and infrastructure.
The centre's director, Associate Professor Lee Fook Hou, said: "I am pretty sure our buildings are safe now, but I can't assure you they will always be. The aim of our research is to reduce that margin of uncertainty."
Comprising 20 local and three foreign academics and researchers, the centre will start work on the impact of earth tremors because that is something "closest to our hearts", noted Assoc Prof Lee.
Through experiments and the investigation of data collected, the centre aims to develop new technologies to counter potential risks to the safety of structures.
"While natural hazards are inevitable, we can focus on using good science to prevent them from becoming disasters," said Assoc Prof Lee. "The idea is to find new ways to improve structures."
This would prove especially useful to companies looking to venture into earthquake-prone areas, he added. The centre will eventually move into research on other dangers such as typhoons and floods.
Another goal of the centre: To become an information and resource hub on natural disasters for Singapore and the region.
By providing "accurate and reliable answers" on why buildings behave the way they do during earthquakes, people here will be more knowledgeable about the effects of natural disasters and be in "a calmer state of mind because they know they are safe", said Assoc Prof Lee.
NUS opens Centre for Hazards Research
Tania Tan, Straits Times 23 Nov 07
SPECIALISTS in geography and engineering will come together under one roof here for combined research into earthquakes.
They want to find out, for example, why tremors radiating from Indonesia's September quake shook Singapore as far west as the National University of Singapore (NUS).
They will also research into early detection, how tremors travel over long distances and their impact on buildings and structures here.
Yesterday, NUS launched its Centre for Hazards Research, which is housed in the engineering faculty. The centre will have 12 academic staff and about 15 students.
Associate Professor Lee Fook Hou of the civil engineering department, who heads the new centre, said he hoped the centre's research will shed new light on earthquakes.
Its findings will have a practical purpose.
For example, ways can be found to make buildings here safer without unnecessary reinforcement, which only go towards busting construction budgets.
The centre hopes to work with several government agencies, including the Building and Construction Authority, the Housing Board and construction companies to develop better building designs.
Prof Lee said: 'Existing building standards are overkill, because they assume that earthquakes happen just a few kilometres away.
'It makes construction impractical and costs, at times, unrealistic.'
The tremors felt here and in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok come from several hundred kilometres away, and could have very different effects on buildings and structures than if quake epicentres are nearby, he explained.
Not enough is known now about the effects of such tremors from so far away, especially when these tremors come up against underground road and rail network structures, he added.
Prof Lee said he hoped that the centre's research will also benefit Singapore's earthquake prone neighbours.
'While natural hazards are inevitable, we can focus on using good science to prevent them from becoming disasters,' he said.
