Project NOAH

I. Introduction

The Philippines, being a locus of

typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and
volcanic eruptions, is a hotbed of
disasters. Natural hazards inflict loss of
lives and costly damage to property in the
country. The effects of these hazards were
witnessed in 2011’s Typhoon Pedring,
2012’s Typhoon Pablo, and the most
disastrous storm of the century, 2013’s
Typhoon Yolanda. These resulted in a high
number of fatalities with economic losses
amounting to billions of pesos. Extreme
weather is the common factor in these
catastrophes. Situated in the humid tropics, the Philippines will inevitably suffer
from climate-related calamities similar to those experienced in recent years. With
continued development in the lowlands, and growing populations, it is expected that
damage to infrastructure and human losses would persist and even rise unless
appropriate measures are immediately implemented by government.

In response to President Aquino’s instructions to put in place a responsive

program for disaster prevention and mitigation, specifically, for the Philippines’
warning agencies to be able to provide a 6 hour lead-time warning to vulnerable
communities against impending floods and to use advanced technology to enhance
current geo-hazard vulnerability maps, the Nationwide Operational Assessment of
Hazards (NOAH) was launched by the Department of Science and Technology.

NOAH’s mission is to undertake disaster science research and development,

advance the use of cutting edge technologies and recommend innovative
information services in government’s disaster prevention and mitigation efforts.
Though the use of science and technology and in partnership with the academe and
other stakeholders, the DOST through Program NOAH is taking a multi-disciplinary
approach in developing systems, tools, and other technologies that could be
operationalized by government to help prevent and mitigate disasters.

NOAH’s immediate task is to integrate current disaster science research and

development projects and initiate new efforts within the DOST to achieve this
objective. Presently there are nine (9) component projects under the NOAH
program, namely:

1. Hydromet Sensors Development

2. DREAM-LIDAR 3D Mapping
 3. Flood NET – Flood Information Network
4. Strategic Communication
5. Disaster Management using WebGIS
6. Enhancing Geohazard Mapping through LIDAR and High-resolution Imagery
7. Doppler System Development
8. Landslide Sensors Development
9. Storm Surge Inundation Mapping
10.Weather Information Integration for System Enhancement (WISE)

The current NOAH Program team is composed of the scientist-leaders of these

projects. The country’s warning agencies: PAG-ASA and PHIVOLCS are also
represented.

Within two years, NOAH shall provide high-resolution flood hazard maps and
install 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level measuring stations for 18
major river basins of the Philippines, namely:

 Marikina River Basin  Magaswang Tubig River Basin

 Cagayan de Oro River Basin  Jalaur River Basin

 Iligan River Basin  Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin

 Agno River Basin  Agus River Basin

 Pampanga River Basin  Davao River Basin

 Bicol River Basin  Mindanao River Basin

 Cagayan River Basin  Tagum-Libuganon River Basin

 Agusan River Basin  Tagaloan River Basin

 Panay River Basin  Buayan-Malungun River Basin

The other river basins of the Philippines will follow soon after the work on the 18
major river basins is completed.

The hazard maps are produced with computer simulations that reflect flood-
prone areas discernible at a local scale or community level. Such maps are
necessary for localized emergency response, identification of evacuation and access
routes, road closures during disaster events, siting of key rescue facilities and
comprehensive land use planning. The initial output of Project NOAH is focused on
the Marikina Watershed. As of July 6, 2012, streaming data from the automated rain
gauges and water level sensors, flood hazard maps overlain on Google Maps,
graphical satellite radar and Doppler data forecasts, and translated rain intensity
and volume measurements in terms of warning and evacuation level alarms, hours
or days ahead of the flood event, are accessible online. The output on the Marikina
Watershed will serve as the prototype of the efforts done by NOAH and will be
replicated for the entire Philippines. Information generated shall also be transmitted
using other media and communication channels. Through the use of advanced
science and technology, NOAH aims to improve disaster management capacity of
local governments and assure homeland security by reducing casualties and
property loss from extreme hazard events.

II. VISION

The Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) program

envisions a disaster-free Philippines where communities are empowered through
open access to accurate, reliable and timely hazard and risk information.

III. MISSION

 To develop high-resolution hazard maps for various type of natural hazards

using frontier science and cutting-edge technology.

 To undertake investigations in meteorological and geological hazards to

improve the country’s capability to prevent and mitigate the potentially
disastrous impacts of natural hazards.

 To systematically simulate, validate, and improve geohazard maps.

 To integrate and assist other agencies in identifying meteorological and

geological hazards with the ultimate objective of promoting safety in
communities affected by natural hazards.

 To collaborate with similar institutions or organizations, both national and

international, in furtherance of the above purposes.

Reference:

https://center.noah.up.edu.ph/