DOST's Project NOAH

by Calimlim, Noli R.

2013-11406

Last July 2012, President Benigno Aquino III called the attention of powerful agencies to perform actions and to help put into place the prevention of hardships, caused by typhoons and floods, experienced by most of the Filipino people. As a response, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched a project called Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, also known as Project NOAH, which aims to mitigate disasters through the use of advanced technology like stream and rain gauges and to make people aware ahead of time whenever a bad weather is approaching the country. (“About Project NOAH”)

Project NOAH MTSAT image as of August 7, 2013, 10:01 AM. Screengrab from http://noah.dost.gov.ph/

NOAH also exhibits useful features, tools and components that can contribute for a more accurate and responsive disaster prevention like the installation of state-of-the-art instruments. One of the most important aspects of these features is the creation of flood maps which displays the most flood-affected areas and the safer grounds. (Dungo, 2012)

In line with the opening of the National Science and Technology Week (July 23), dubbed 2013 Expo Science in Pasay City, DOST has activated at least 500 flood sensors and rain gauges nationwide. Aside from these sensors installed in 18 major river basins nationwide, another 500 sensors are to be distributed to local government units upon their request. (“DOST activates rain gauges, flood sensors”) On the same event, DOST, through Project NOAH, has come up with a tablet device aptly called Moses (Mobile Operational System for Emergency Services).

Moses is an 8-inch mobile tablet capable of receiving real-time weather and flood information reports from the DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and Project NOAH. The DOST aims to provide the 42,028 barangays with this tablets. For the pilot test, 1,000 units will be distributed to different barangays in Metro Manila. Moses also provides Doppler radar sensor data, water-level sensor data and measurements culled from gauges strategically located in different high-risk areas. Also available in the tablet is a hazard map that is updated in real time. (S&T Media Services, 2013)

The Moses tablet. Photo by Kim Luces

The accurate information can be accessed by local officials, down to the barangay level, in order to aid them in their decision-making to prevent the loss of life and property.

Last 20^th of September, Rappler formalizes its parnership with Weather Philippines and Project NOAH, to further strengthen its weather and disaster news coverage in line with its aim for a better, more accurate weather and disaster news for the public. (Rappler, 2013)

Mahar Lagmay, director of DOST- Project NOAH said that they welcome this agreement with Rappler, because he know that media can help a lot in disseminating crucial, vital and understandable information. Information that all of the people need in the far-flung areas and even in the cities in order for them to save themselves.

Works Cited

"About Project NOAH." Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. N.p., 06 July 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://www.gov.ph/ >.

"DOST Activates Rain Gauges, Flood Sensors." Solar News. N.p., 25 July 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://www.solarnews.ph/ >.

Dungo, Fehl. "DOST Project for Flood, Rain and Weather Assessment." PhilPad RSS. N.p., 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://philpad.com/ >.

Rappler.com. "Rappler Signs MOA with Weather Philippines, Project Noah." Online posting. Rappler. N.p., 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://www.rappler.com/ >.

S & T Media Services. "Moses Tablet Unveiled for Disaster Preparedness." Science.ph. N.p., 01 Aug. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://www.science.ph/ >.