SINGAPORE: Singapore will soon have a new system which can help to identify potential threats like a terror attack or emerging trends that point to a crisis.

The Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning System (RAHS System) is developed by the National Security Coordination Centre under the Prime Minister's Office and several partners.

It is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Threats such as a SARS outbreak could have been detected much earlier and could even have been avoided with the RAHS System.

The system collects relevant data, organises it intelligently and helps various ministries or agencies to collaborate better with the information.

Professor David Snowden, Founder, Cognitive Edge, Consultant for RAHS System, said: "Let's take an example, somebody comes in one day – they've been gathering data for multiple ministries which have been collected for different reasons. Ministry of Health may be collecting data on SARS outbreaks or bird flu and at the same time, the Ministry of Defence may be looking for some indications of a bio-terrorist attack.

"The Singapore system will actually allow them to make connections between those different ministries, which would normally only ever be made eight years after an attack when people write a report on it in an academic textbook."

Over a two-day trial, about ten analysts from government agencies like the Health Ministry tested the prototype RAHS System.

The trial showed how information on early warning systems can be shared and accessed easily. And when RAHS System gets implemented by the end of this year, decision makers like ministers would be able to study the potential threats to Singapore on their computers.

Patrick Nathan, National Security Coordination Centre, Prime Minister's Office, said: "We're not just talking about terrorist events. We're talking about pandemics, worrying social trends, even major financial turning points. If it's picked up early enough, we would be able to pre-empt, prevent it. If it's picked up a little later, at least we could put in place the right mitigation consequence management recovery processes to reduce the impact of that strategic surprise."

The RAHS System will be unveiled at an international symposium next month. - CNA/so