Observation Satellite To Help Predict Disasters In Thailand

[webfact]

Observation satellite to help predict disasters

By The Nation

At the ongoing Asean meeting, Thailand is planning to propose that its observation satellite be used for disaster management.

The 60th meeting of the Asean Committee on Science and Technology is being held in Krabi until December 17, with China, India and Japan also attending the event.

Science and Technology Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Dr Weerapong Paesuwan said yesterday that the Thailand Earth Observation Satellite (THEOS) would be a concrete method of applying science in disaster management.

"The issue will be raised and discussed at the meeting," he said.

This year, dozens of Thai provinces have suffered from the worst floods in decades. In Phatthalung alone, floods caused damages worth more than Bt700 million as well as nine deaths. A representative of the HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his royal consort HRH Princess Srirasmi yesterday handed out 2,000 bags of relief items to people in the province.

According to the government's coordination centre to facilitate flood relief operations, Phatthalung is the only province that is under water. Other provinces just have to deal with overflowing rivers at present.

However, the Meteorological Department has forecast that heavy downpours will hit the South between December 16 and 20. People living at the foothills have been warned to brace for possible landslides.

Asked about complaints that many flood victims have yet to receive Bt5,000 in financial help from the government, the coordination centre said provincial governors had been instructed to look into the complaints and update the list of flood victims who are eligible.

-- The Nation 2010-12-15

[asiawatcher]

Good grief Charlie Brown! What a waste of money. Billions on a satellite or why not put the funds to controlling the issues and water runoff. But they still cannot afford to pay Baht 5,000 (USD165) in relief to affected families. Am I missing something here?

[Bagwan]

Isn't there a guy in Chiang Mai who is great for forecasting the future? Comes highly recommended by you know who - or maybe not seeing what happened to him.

[Ricardo]

But what happens, after a year or so, when the battery runs out ?

[AZBill]

Can it detect Thailand's biggest impending disaster - mass political corruption? Or would that simply overload it's circuits

[whybother]

Can it detect Thailand's biggest impending disaster - mass political corruption? Or would that simply overload it's circuits

Impending?

That's like using the Hubble telescope to find the moon.

[kennalder]

Can it detect Thailand's biggest impending disaster - mass political corruption? Or would that simply overload it's circuits

Impending?

That's like using the Hubble telescope to find the moon.

Very good, couldn't have said it better myself. Nothing like a good belly laugh, thanks.

[mccw]

Good grief Charlie Brown! What a waste of money. Billions on a satellite or why not put the funds to controlling the issues and water runoff. But they still cannot afford to pay Baht 5,000 (USD165) in relief to affected families. Am I missing something here?

they're not proposing building one specialy just for this purpose! they already have the satalite. I imajine it's useful for all sorts of this civillian and military. They are just offering to share it if needs be with ASEAN to help monitor floods and such.

Maybe the 5000bhts are not arriving at the people because of local village heads, or which ever local level goon is responsible, because of it getting pocketed on the way. Be interesting to see which areas in which it's not arriving and what party is in control. Could also be it's take time if central gov is actualy checking the claims are valid and not just dishing out money feeding coruption.

"damned if you do, damned if you don't" springs to mind.

I do agree more could to be done in way of flood management. But you do know flooding is what spreads the nutients across the land, keeping feild fertile and crops yeilding well with out the need for chemical fertilisers. These fertilisers can only plug the gap for so long. Sooner or later the field will have to beleft fallow or end up toxic and useless.

People should raise the land they build their houses on or like they always used to raise them on stilts. Roads and important infastricture built high enough to not be affected. Compensation and effective disaster relief.

It's impossible to totaly stop all flooding and wouldn't be desirable to do so anyway. Easier and cheaper to conteracting the negative impact and protect core areas such as towns or cities.