UP NOAH

UP NOAH
noah.up.edu.ph
> a website that provides high-resolution hazard
maps for floods, storm surges, and landslides,
near real-time warning system for communities,
and produces impact-scenario assessment

The University of the Philippines Nationwide

Operational Assessment of Hazards (UP-
NOAH) is a multidisciplinary research center
housed in the UP National Institute of
Geological Sciences with the goal of helping
reduce the impacts of hazards. It seeks to
assist the country in disaster risk reduction
and management, climate change adaptation
and mitigation efforts and related activities
through research, development and extension
services.
 UP NOAH
>Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational
Assessment of Hazards) is the Philippines'
primary disaster risk reduction and management
program. It was initially administered by the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
from 2012 to 2017, but is now managed by the
University of the Philippines.
> Project NOAH is the Department of Science and
Technology’s (DOST) response to the call of
President Benigno S. Aquino III for a more
accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster
prevention and mitigation system, especially in
high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.
> 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
DOST.
> The Project will harness technologies and management
services for disaster risk reduction activities offered by
the DOST through PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and the DOST-
Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), in
partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological
Sciences and the UP College of Engineering.
 BRIEF HISTORY OF PROJECT NOAH

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.
 NOAH ANDROID AND IOS APPLICATIONS

•Project NOAH’s mobile

application which provides
Place your screenshot Place your screenshot Place your screenshot
users with location-specific here here here

flood hazard maps is among

the 40 winners of UN- based
World Summit Award.
5
 COMPONENTS OF PROJECT NOAH

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. Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices
in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet)

• A total of 600 automated rain gauges (ARG) and 400 water level
monitoring stations (WLMS) was installed along the country’s 18
major river basins (RBs) in December 2013 to provide a better picture
of the country’s surface water in relation to flooding.
 1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
• The installation of automated rain gauges and water level monitoring stations in major
river basins and flood-prone areas.
1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
a. Automated Weather Station (AWS)
• Measures wind speed direction, air temperature, humidity, pressure and the amount of rainfall, its duration and
intensity.
1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
Nearest Automated Weather Station
DOST -Taguig
1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
b. Automated Rain Gauge (ARG)
• Gathers the amount of rainfall incident in the area.
1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
Nearest Rain Gauge

National Center for Mental Health

1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
c. Water Level Monitoring System (WLMS)
• Measures the rate by which water level rises within the river system or bodies of water.
1. Hydrometeorological Devices (Hydromet)
Nearest Water Level Monitoring System

Sevilla Bridge
2. Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation –
Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project
• The project was
completed in
December 2013, aims
to produce more
accurate flood
inundation and hazard
maps in 3D for the
country’s flood-prone
and major river
systems and
watersheds.
3. Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR

• The project was

completed in
December 2014, shall
use LIDAR technology
and computer-assisted
analyses to identify
exact areas prone to
landslides.
3. Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR

Landslide

Landslide: Hazard map

 4. Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and
Mitigation (CHASSAM)
• CHASSAM, was completed
in December 2014, will
generate wave surge, wave
refraction, and coastal
circulation models to
understand and
recommend solutions for
coastal erosion.

Storm surge
Storm Surge: Hazard map
 5. Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project
• Was completed in December 2013 is
a flood center that will provide
timely and accurate information for
flood early warning systems.
• The FloodNET Project came up with
computer models for the critical
RBs, automate the process of data
gathering, modeling and information
output, and release flood forecasts.

Flood
FLOOD: Hazard map
5. Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project

Doppler Radar Rainfall Contour

NOAH features:Near real-time data
5. Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project

Rain And Stream Gauges Satellite And Typhoon Track

NOAH features:Near real-time data
6. Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems
(LaDDeRS)
• LaDDeRS seeks to develop
local capacity to design,
fabricate, and operate sub-
systems of Doppler radars for
remotely sensing the dynamic
parameters of sea surface such
as wave, wind field, and surface
current velocity.
7. Landslide Sensors Development Project

• This project is a low-cost, locally

developed, sensor-based early
monitoring and warning system for
landslides, slope failures, and debris
flow. As of May 2012, ten sensors
have been installed in San Francisco,
Surigao del Norte; Tago, Surigao del
Sur; Tublay, Bugias, and Bokod in
Benguet; Guihulngan City, Negros
Occidental; St. Bernard, Southern
Leyte; and Tubungan, Iloilo.
Additional sensors are deployed to
not less than 50 sites in 2013.
8. Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP)

• WHIP involves the utilization of platforms

such as television (DOSTv) and a web
portal (http://noah.dost.gov.ph), which
display real-time satellite, Doppler radar,
ARG, and WLMS data to empower
LGUs and communities to prepare
against extreme natural hazards. This is
complemented by activities, such as: a)
conducting of IEC (Information,
Education, and Communication)
activities; and b) the processing and
packaging of relevant and up-to-date
information for public use.
 9. Disaster Management using WebGIS

• A Web-based GIS has been

developed for supporting disaster
management. This system helps to
estimate the extent and size of
damages, just after the particular
disaster. It also, helps the managers
to rapidly response to various
disasters. This takes a lot of
advantages to the managers by
decreasing the cost and response
time to make better decision during
and just after the disaster.
 Strategic Communications
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
• The Strategic Communications Intervention for the NOAH Program was created to provide
institutional communications support in promoting and raising the level of awareness for the
NOAH Program and to attain public acceptance of the program as a science-based disaster
management tool as an early warning system.
• The project was implemented at the same time the NOAH program was launched in July 6, 2012
in Marikina City as part of the government’s initiatives to implement a responsive and pro-active
program for disaster mitigation and risk reduction in order to promote a culture of safety and
preparedness among the populace particularly those in vulnerable areas; thereby avoiding or
lessening the negative impact brought about by devastating typhoons in the past years like
Sendong, Pablo and Ondoy in the future.
• The program is to complement the efforts and activities of the government’s warning agencies
particularly the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) in providing accurate, timely and comprehensive weather and hazard information to
include, not only pertinent data but also the possible effect or impact to communities-at-risk in
order to avert massive casualty and minimize loss to properties.
 Strategic Communications
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
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 had provided
a high-resolution flood hazard maps and installed 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level
measuring stations for 18 major river basins of the Philippines, namely:
• Marikina River Basin • Alaur River Basin
• Cagayan de Oro River Basin
• Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin
• Iligan 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
• Magaswang Tubig River Basin • Buayan-Malungun River Basin

The installation to other river basins in the Philippines was completed.