By Digna D. Banzon
DAVAO CITY, Nov 21 (PNA) — At least 58 cities in the Philippines will be subjected to DREAM 3D LIDAR flood control mapping.
The project is in line with the country’s program on Smarter Philippines, according to Dr. Alejandro Melchor III, DREAM 3D LIDAR’s program leader.
Dr. Melchor, in an interview after his talk during the 2013 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE) held at SM City here, said that as of September 16, 2013, 34 out of 58 cities have been surveyed by 3D LIDAR.
The Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) program through the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology will provide comprehensive data for risk management.
He said it is a three-dimensional map where path of flooding can well be presented.
The cities covered in Mindanao are Davao, Tagum, Butuan, Malaybalay, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Kidapawan, Marawi, Cotabato and General Santos.
Melchor said many of the local government units had been asking about the 3D LIDAR flooding maps considering that their investors are asking them about the city’s risk areas.
This will guide the LGUs to their prospective investors on where to locate their businesses.
Melchor said that under the NOAH-Wise Project Weather Information Integration for System Improvement is the Intelligent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System which involves high computing and analytics. NOAH is Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards.
He said they will be using a Blue Gene/P super computer of 4,096 core which IBM donated to the Department of Science and Technology. It will be housed at DOST’s iGov Data Center.
Expected outcome using the system is an improved weather forecasting, Melchor said, adding that NOAH’s weather forecast has been extended from 6 hours to 7 days. It will have larger coverage to monitor weather disturbances forming out of sea.
He also said that faster computing will result in hourly 7-day forecasts, and more weather parameters will be produced for public information.
“An improved weather forecasting will improve flood prediction,” Melchor said. (PNA)