Nicky Hastings

Physical Scientist

I am a physical scientist within the Climate Change Geoscience Program at the Geological Survey of Canada. My primary research endeavours center around the advanced risk assessment methodologies aimed at bolstering the evaluation of coastal flooding and climate change impacts in Canada. In this capacity, I collaborate closely with internal and external partners to co-create knowledge and advance best practices within the field of coastal science. My research focuses on mapping the impacts of coastal storm surges, sea-level rise, coastal change, and tsunami risks. As part of these efforts, I have contributed to the development of multiple guidelines within the flood mapping guidelines series.

Natural Resources Canada

Vancouver

Current research and/or projects

I am developing coastal geoscience knowledge to advance an understanding of the current and future risks of coastal flooding from storm surges, rising sea levels, and tsunamis. I work closely with decision-makers to support information about climate change hazards and inform adaptation strategies.

Research and/or project statements

Mapping Coastal Floods:
- Integration of storm surge, sea level rise, and tsunami data to map coastal flood risks.
- Analysis of the potential impacts on communities to enhance adaptation strategies.
Addressing Coastal Change:
- Incorporation of erosion and accretion dynamics in coastal flood maps.
- Innovative Tools:
  - Advancements to the flood risk assessment tool, CanFlood.
  - A new Flood Depth Damage Tool, CanCurve, that generates damage functions for use in flood risk assessments.

Professional activities / interests

Federal Flood Mapping Guideline Technical working groups subcommittees 1) Flood Land use 2) flood damage estimation 3) Flood risk assessment (2019-ongoing)
Federal Coordination Working Group – Pacific region (2015 - 2019)
Fraser Basin Council - Lower Mainland Flood Management Committee (2014 - 2022) a) subcommittee Hydrology & Hydraulics subcommittee (2017- 2019) b) flood risk strategy subcommittee (2019 - 2022)
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Program Advisory Committee (2017 – 2019)
Flood Mapping in B.C. Professional Guideline Committee, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (2016 –2017)
District of North Vancouver Natural Hazards Task Force (2015 - ongoing)
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Hazus Tsunami Modeling Committee (2012 –2013)

Education and awards

District of North Vancouver Earthquake Risk Assessment Case Study Team Collaboration Award, Earth Sciences Sector, NRCan, 2015

District of North Vancouver, UNISDR Sasakawa Award (partner)

Outstanding Hazus International Award, 2011 Hazus Conference Award

'Best Adaptation of the Hazus Earthquake Model,' 2010 Hazus Conference Award

'Best Hazus Map of Conference' 2010 Hazus Conference Award

Key publications

Safaie, S (ed.); Johnstone, S (ed.); Hastings, N L (ed.); Resilient pathways report: co-creating new knowledge for understanding risk and resilience in British Columbia, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8910, 2022, 278 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/330521

Hastings, N; Hobbs, Earthquakes, in Resilient pathways report: co-creating new knowledge for understanding risk and resilience in British Columbia; Safaie, S (ed.); Johnstone, S (ed.); Hastings, N L (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8910, 2022 p. 1-23, https://doi.org/10.4095/330532

Hastings, N; Roman, G, Riverine Floods, in Resilient pathways report: co-creating new knowledge for understanding risk and resilience in British Columbia; Safaie, S (ed.); Johnstone, S (ed.); Hastings, N L (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8910, 2022 p. 1-26, https://doi.org/10.4095/330533

Hastings, N L; Chow, W; Wagner, C L, Hazus-MH 2.1 Canada application and databases: earthquake and flood module, Open File 7811, 2016, https://doi.org/10.4095/297813

Hastings, N L; Wagner, C L; Chow, W; Sidwell, C F; White, R A L; Hazus-MH 2.1 Canada user and technical manual: flood module, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7940, 2017, 133 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/304202

Hastings, N L; Journeay, M; Allen, T I; White, R A L, Understanding modelled earthquake risks for British Columbia - limitations and opportunities, in 11th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering: facing seismic risk, conference proceedings; 94371, 2015 p. 1-9 Open Access logo Open Access

Wagner, C L; Journeay, J M; Hastings, N L; Prieto, J A, Risk map atlas: maps from the earthquake risk study for the District of North Vancouver, Open File 7816, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4095/296439

Struik, L.C, Pearce, L. D, Dercole, F. Shoubridge, J. van Zijll de Jong, S. Allan, J D, Hastings, N L, Clague, J J. Risk-based land-use guide: safe use of land-based on hazard risk assessment, Open File 7772, 2015;

Ulmi, M; Wagner, C L; Wojtarowicz, M; Bancroft, J L; Hastings, N L; Chow, W; Rivard, J R; Prieto, J; Journeay, J M; Struik, L C; Nastev, Hazus-MH 2.1 Canada user and technical manual: earthquake module; Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7474, 2014, 245 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/293800

Journeay, J M; Talwar, S; Brodaric, Hastings, N L; Disaster resilience by design: a framework for integrated assessment and risk-based planning in Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7551, 2015, 336 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/296800

Journeay, M., Dercole, F., Weston, M., Mason, D., Prieto, J., Hastings, N.L., Wagner, C.L., Lotze, A.;, Chang, S., Ventura, C.A., Profile of Earthquake Risk for the District of North Vancouver, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7677, https://doi.org/10.4095/296256