Rain gauge system for community-based disaster risk reduction program in Northern Iloilo

Abstract

When Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the area of Northern Iloilo, it brought so much devastation in the town of Concepcion. It prompted the College of Engineering, Central Philippine University to design and develop a rain gauge system for community-based disaster risk reduction program and an early warning system (EWS) for rain-induced landslides. The system was installed in eight (8) selected sites in the vicinity of the said town which were identified as landslide-prone areas. This system comprises of a self-emptying tipping bucket, strobe lights, alarm system, solar PV system, Bluetooth module, Android-based mobile unit, and the main control unit. The function and operations of the EWS were based on two factors: rain volume rate and soil absorption. Data were gathered from identified areas, and soil testing was conducted to determine the soil permeability. Three samples were taken from each site, and the highest permeability value was utilized to predict the possibility of a landslide occurrence. The result of the soil test was the basis of the EWS. The system was installed in the identified places, and final testing and evaluation were made to ensure its functionality. The rain gauge system for the prediction of a raininduced landslide was successfully designed, developed and implemented.