The Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) provided flood impact maps to affected localities during the onslaught of typhoon Odette.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña expressed ASTI’s commitment to provide flood impact maps through its Remote Sensing and Data Science (DATOS) Help Desk project.
The DATOS is the DOST-ASTI’s geospatial applications initiative that applies Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and other data science techniques to remotely sensed data. It is funded by DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
“DATOS builds on and integrates past and ongoing DOST-supported projects; and different Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and other Data Science techniques to complement disaster management-related initiatives of other government agencies. When there are available Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data concurrent with a flooding event brought about by extreme weather events, DATOS through its Artificial Intelligence models, detect the potentially inundated areas,” de la Peña said in a taped report.
He noted that during the onslaught of Odette and other previous weather events, the DATOS Project distributed flood impact maps and other datasets to national agencies like Office of Civil Defense (OCD), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and DOST Regional Offices.
“These maps can significantly aid in the efforts of LGUs and responders in their critical activities on disaster mitigation, analysis, and advice on the ground,” the DOST chief said.
The DATOS Project on Sunday, Dec. 19, released the flood impact maps for Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).
The maps were produced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and radar satellite images captured on Dec. 18.
“Please be advised that the thematic accuracy of the flood maps might be lower in urban and forested areas due to inherent limitations of the SAR analysis technique.”
The flood impact maps were posted on the DATOS Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DATOSproject/) for public consumption and utilization.