BuildAction: associations pool their skills for the greater good.

Professional associations have a long and proud history of encouraging their members to donate time and resources to deserving causes.

From their unique position of independence, credibility and influence, they can bring industry professionals and leaders together, mobilizing skills and knowledge to tackle major issues and make a big difference in the world.

As a global professional organization with over 140,000 members in more than 140 countries, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is perfectly positioned to do this.

In the spirit of associations creating global initiatives for the greater good, RICS has formed BuildAction, a disaster management initiative which aims to bring together building industry professionals and humanitarian workers to help vulnerable communities around the globe prepare for and recover from disasters. Originating from an unprecedented need for post-disaster reconstruction skills after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, RICS formed the RICS Major Disaster Management Commission to address how built environment professional skills and knowledge could be deployed to help vulnerable communities at all stages of the disaster management cycle.

BuildAction is the culmination of the Commission's efforts and aims to focus on the gap between when the humanitarian efforts subside and the rebuilding begins, which starts approximately a few weeks after a disaster occurs.

In disaster prone areas, it is vital that reconstruction efforts include preventive methods to reduce death and damage the next time around. Many of the poorer regions of the world lack basic building codes and there are very simple, low-tech solutions that can be implemented to prevent severe loss of life and damage in future natural disasters. Solutions could be as simple as securing the roof of a building with more than just gravity, or fastening desks to the ground in schools, as an emergency shelter to protect children.

With 17 diverse faculties represented by RICS membership, BuildAction will coordinate the skills of professionals working in such fields as planning, land surveying, quantity surveying/cost engineering and other fields.

Building surveyors are equipped to determine if a structure is sound or needs to be taken down in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, which will prevent many accidents during rescue and rebuilding. Land surveyors will be instrumental in determining boundaries. Planners are essential to ensure that viable and safe communities (not just a random collection of buildings) are created. For example, building 200 meters back from the shore can make an enormous difference. Quantity surveyors specialize in managing projects and budgeting. One major problem of recovery aid is that a portion of the funds always seem to disappear. Quantity surveyors are used to managing money to ensure that 100% of the funds are devoted to recovery and that best value is achieved in the procurement of materials and labor.

BuildAction offers a character-building opportunity to young professionals and we believe some will go on to pursue full-time humanitarian careers. Opportunities also exist for building and property-related companies looking to fulfill their corporate social responsibility and to recruit, retain and develop their staff. Support on an individual and corporate level for BuildAction has been incredible thus far; and on the demand side, the humanitarian sector has no shortage of requirements.

The current challenge of BuildAction is to coordinate efforts, support and skills into a plan of responsible action. We will spend the next year providing humanitarian training for individuals, while making use of the core of highly trained and experienced members on pilot projects.

Our goal is to have people in the field in the next year and we are actively seeking volunteers to pledge their skills and receive training.

As the world shrinks, many associations have members based across the world offering an unparalleled global perspective on today's issues. Associations have a chance to bring together top professionals to think outside of the office. It is the duty of an association to create opportunity for members and be of service the public.

BY DAVID TUFFIN

RICS PRESIDENT