Hitech Flood Fight In All Key Rivers In Thailand

[webfact]

Hitech flood fight In all key rivers

Pongphon Sarnsamak

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

Royol Jitdon

BANGKOK: -- Devices to measure water levels being installed in all basins in North, Centre and around Bangkok

Over 140 hydrologic telemetry devices will be installed along all water channels to fetch actual water levels, being one of modern scientific tools to be adopted in the national water management scheme.

Aside from the device, the Hydro and Agro Infomatics Institute will also work with GeoInformatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to study river contours. All information would be used to complete water management models. Each model will be attached with solutions how the water should be channelled to the sea, to minimize the negative impacts, according to the Institute’s director Royol Jitdon, who sits on the government appointed Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management.

The model will analyze three different situations: flood situations, hydrodynamic situations, and flood routing situation.

"I think we can get enough information but after that the information must be analysed. First we have the hydrodynamic model to see how much the rainfall will result in rainwater," Royol told The Nation in the special interview.

"Another model will look at the flooding. Then the other model will see the flood routing which look at how the flood water will be drained. It will show which route is the best and can fasted drain the water. This is my duty. I prepare the (information) system to be considered and decide. We lacked precise information in the past," he said.

"I am responsible for development of information. The information will then be used for disaster warning which will be conducted with criteria such as at what level of rainfall that the warning will be issued. The National Disaster Warning Centre will be in charge of that. The framework will be clear," he said.

"If the problem is at the information, blame me. My duty is to prepare the information ready for the warning and management. My duty is on preparing the information for management during crisis. If that is the problem, blame me. But it is not that I am responsible for everything," Royol said.

Royol said his team has started to install the telemetry system for each water shade across country to collect hydrologic data such as the level of water and the amount of water in each river to put in the analysis program to predict the flood situation in each areas.

"This hydrologic information system will help relevant agencies and local authorities to make their right decision to deal with flood situation at that time," he said.

HAII will set up 140 telemetry devices in water shades across country by June. So far, the agency has installed about 60 telemetry devices.

The hydrologic data collected from these telemetry devices in each water shades across country will be put in the National Hydrologic Data Center and support the local authorities and flood related agencies to cope with the emergency operations.

According to the primary prediction for the amount of rainfall in this year from a model which earlier run by his team, Royol forecasted that the heavy rainfall will result in a large percentage of the rainwater due to the influence of monsoon in the north of Pacific Ocean or the northeast monsoon which will get worse in this year.

" We found the variability of weather and climate condition in the Pacific ocean in this year was like in 2008 which caused three heavy monsoons. We predicted that the flood situation in this year will get worse (than in 2008) but better than last year," he said.

His team will start working with the Royal Irrigation Department and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand by March 20 to study the model, supported by Denmark and Netherlands agencies, to predict the amount of rain fall in this year.

" We will review the model that use to predict the amount of rainfall and find out how to make the prediction with more accuracy," Royol said.

The outcome of model will be used by the flood related agencies such as Defense Ministry, which is the main agency to construct and operate the flood prevention together with the Interior Ministry, National Disaster Warning Center and Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry.

The models will predict the flood situation in the areas located in different river basins in the northern and middle part of Thailand including Ping river basin and Wang river basin, Yom river basin and Nan river basin, the rivers that are located on the lower areas of Nakhon Sawan province, the rivers in Chao Phra Ya basin, and the areas surrounding Bangkok.

The flood models will be conducted for the outer and the inner Bangkok separately, just as on the east and the west of the Chao Phraya river as well (also separated), so that it is easy to compare the accuracy and for management, Royol said.

also will collect the street level data of each street surrounding Bangkok such as Buddha Monthon Sai 5 and Klong 13 canal. This data will help the related flood agencies to evaluate the capacity of each street to drain and block flood water.

Moreover, HAII will cooperate with Chinese state agencies to develop the seasonal model which will show the weather condition in each season. The model will analyse the changing of land use and the oceanic condition. It is expected to forecast weather condition for sixmonth period.

"We will soon know the exactly beginning and ending period of rainy season," he said.

His agency now sends staffs to attend the workshop in China to learn how to use this model effectively.

After using some of models to analyse the last year flood situations, he said his team found the large amount of sediments in Yom river which was the main cause for flood in Pitsanulok province’s Bang Ra Kham district for over five months.

" We were surprised after we found that there was a large amount of sediments under Yom river which block the drainage system," Royol said.

He added that if related agencies could dredge all this large amount of sediments from the river and surrounding areas that mean they would be able to drain water faster from 357 cubic meters per second to 500 cubic meter per second. This would reduce the amount of prolong flood in the field from 8 billion cubic meters to 4 billion cubic meters.

" All we have to do is finding resolution to resolve flood problem together as some solution might create other problem for other areas," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[Zpete]

Go medieval, build walls around vulnerable towns.

Sandbag technology is so passée.

[hellodolly]

Sounds like they will think they know a lot. With weather warming and the recent changes global wide I doubt they will have any useful knowledge.

I notice they are not talking about dredging existing canal waterways and taking the illegal building out of the way or putting a end to using them as garbage dumps.

[xkmasada]

They think they're so smart but as long as they refuse to follow the King's thoughts, they are doomed to failure.

[MESmith]

I thought they already had all this data measured. eg http://www.hydro-1.com/index.php?id=61&rivercode=0607

They normally only update this website hourly during times of flood.

[anterian]

After working my way through the poor English, I wonder why this report was written. It seems simply a justification for a few government scientist having a holiday in China.

[Lifer]

They think they're so smart but as long as they refuse to follow the King's thoughts, they are doomed to failure.

I agree. As far as I'm aware, none of the so called experts is following the King's advice. He has been an expert in water management all his life. More people should listen to the King and follow his guidance.

The article is making assumptions and predictions that seem impossible to insure are accurate, all based on some computer model. The only one that knows is Mother Nature!

[allan michaud]

Banning plastic bags would help! A recent study after floods in another Asian country found that plastic bags were a major cause of blocking waterways.

[Thai at Heart]

His team will start working with the Royal Irrigation Department and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

The outcome of model will be used by the flood related agencies such as Defense Ministry, which is the main agency to construct and operate the flood prevention together with the Interior Ministry, National Disaster Warning Center and Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry.

I am so glad that the line of responsibility is so clearly defined about WHO THE HELL IS RESPONSIBLE for managing and mitigating the floods. Oh and he forgot to actually mention any local provincial offices that will have something to say about it too.

They just can't help themselves can they.

[MEL1]

So when there is catasrophic flooding again, it's easy. Blame the model, and the Chinese!

-mel

[draftvader]

Hitech telemetry.... you mean sticks with 10cm marks on them with uni students taking measurements and typing them into an excel spreadsheet which then has to be merged for analysis on a 10 year old Win95 PC don't you?

[yumidesign]

"I think we can get enough information but after that the information must be analysed. First we have the hydrodynamic model to see how much the rainfall will result in rainwater," Royol told The Nation in the special interview.

silly me i thought rainfall was rainwater, must be different in Thailand. Wonder what it is? The reporter must know because he did not question this statement may be he can enlighten us

Edited March 19, 2012 by yumidesign

[yumidesign]

"I think we can get enough information but after that the information must be analysed. First we have the hydrodynamic model to see how much the rainfall will result in rainwater," Royol told The Nation in the special interview.

silly me i thought rainfall was rainwater, must be different in Thailand. Wonder what it is? The reporter must know because he did not question this statement may be he can enlighten us

[animatic]

"First we have the hydrodynamic model to see how much the rainfall will result in rainwater,"

....Well random guess >>> ALL OF IT <<<.... just off the top of my noggin.

Yegawds. Open mouth insert footpad

Edited March 19, 2012 by animatic

[animatic]

Hitech telemetry.... you mean sticks with 10cm marks on them with uni students taking measurements and typing them into an excel spreadsheet which then has to be merged for analysis on a 10 year old Win95 PC don't you?

No, they mean a metal tube with a float in it the tells how many millimeters of string roll off of a bobbin when the water rises. Said metal tube to be stolen for it's metal content within 1 month of installation, and the float going into someones toilet tank.

Edited March 19, 2012 by animatic

[Crushdepth]

His team will start working with the Royal Irrigation Department and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

The outcome of model will be used by the flood related agencies such as Defense Ministry, which is the main agency to construct and operate the flood prevention together with the Interior Ministry, National Disaster Warning Center and Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry.

I am so glad that the line of responsibility is so clearly defined about WHO THE HELL IS RESPONSIBLE for managing and mitigating the floods. Oh and he forgot to actually mention any local provincial offices that will have something to say about it too.

They just can't help themselves can they.

He is offering to provide the data - but also pointing out that acting on it is someone else's responsibility. Guess where the problem lies :-)

[Crushdepth]

Hitech telemetry.... you mean sticks with 10cm marks on them with uni students taking measurements and typing them into an excel spreadsheet which then has to be merged for analysis on a 10 year old Win95 PC don't you?

They have small, low power 'field servers' they can fit with various sensors. They relay data home via the mobile phone network. They are cheap enough to be able put out in fairly large numbers so they can collect environmental data over a large area. Its pretty cool stuff.

[phiphidon]

"First we have the hydrodynamic model to see how much the rainfall will result in rainwater,"

....Well random guess >>> ALL OF IT <<<.... just off the top of my noggin.

Yegawds. Open mouth insert footpad

I presume they mean rainwater runoff - a certain amount will soak into the ground - unless of course you cover the ground with acres of concrete.

[Thai at Heart]

His team will start working with the Royal Irrigation Department and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

The outcome of model will be used by the flood related agencies such as Defense Ministry, which is the main agency to construct and operate the flood prevention together with the Interior Ministry, National Disaster Warning Center and Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry.

I am so glad that the line of responsibility is so clearly defined about WHO THE HELL IS RESPONSIBLE for managing and mitigating the floods. Oh and he forgot to actually mention any local provincial offices that will have something to say about it too.

They just can't help themselves can they.

He is offering to provide the data - but also pointing out that acting on it is someone else's responsibility. Guess where the problem lies :-)

how hard can it be to say that one ministry, presumably the irrigation d ept is responsible. Of course theb army answers to no one so it is all academic after that

[draftvader]

Hitech telemetry.... you mean sticks with 10cm marks on them with uni students taking measurements and typing them into an excel spreadsheet which then has to be merged for analysis on a 10 year old Win95 PC don't you?

They have small, low power 'field servers' they can fit with various sensors. They relay data home via the mobile phone network. They are cheap enough to be able put out in fairly large numbers so they can collect environmental data over a large area. Its pretty cool stuff.

You know enough to ruin how I pictured this...