Flood Level Oriented Warning System (FLOWS): An Advanced Hydrological Flood Monitoring and Early Warning Detection System

Abstract

Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals. Through the use of flood monitoring and early warning system, further damage caused by flood would be prevented. Because of their ability to drastically reduce property losses and loss of life, flood warning services may be seen as a cost-effective means of mitigating flood hazards. Hence, the the researcher created a flood detection system to monitor the rising water level in residential areas. This study presented a design of a flood monitoring system which consists of a flood detector, LCD monitoring display, and Short Messaging Services (SMS). The Arduino IDE software was used to program the system. This system targeted to be implemented as a flood warning tool by respective local authorities and officials in the City of General Trias, Cavite. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used by the researcher wherein five groups-Brgy. Vibora, San Francisco, Pasong Kawayan I, San Juan I and Sta. Clara (with randomized proponents) were subjected to different treatments using the system to compare data and infer results. The researcher used a systematic data collection approach which was the testing method where she tested the effect of the application of the treatment in the experimental group compared with the control group. This method was also used in testing the system’s accuracy in sending messages via SMS in alerting the officials and the public. To test the efficiency of the product, the researcher distributed the data on tables that showed To test the efficiency of the product, the researcher distributed the data on tables that showed the speed, distance and accuracy of the product. The data were analyzed using the t-test (α= 0.05, N = 5, d.f.=4). Since computed t = 12.823 is higher than tcritical= ± 2.776, it is within the rejection region. Therefore, there is a significant difference between the energy consumption before and after using the device. As the study was prepared, conducted, tested and analyzed, the researcher, therefore, found out that the Arduino-based monitoring system was proven to be effective and reliable in monitoring the status of water level, detecting the level of water and alerting the respondents, and can send alert messages accurately and quickly based on the signal connection. The FLOWS can be used by different barangays and government officials to monitor the current status of rivers, lakes, dam, etc.