PROJECT NOAH

(Nationwide Operational
Assessment of Hazard)
Prepared by: Abel Joanne & Pacada Micha Jane
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.

II. FUNCTIONS

The NOAH center shall exercise the following powers and functions:

• Develop and maintain data bases and other science-based information on

natural hazards and climate change risk that is useful for disaster risk
reduction and management, climate change adaptation, resource
management, water conservation and planning, land use planning, urban
development, and engineering designs;

• Generate and strengthen the library of geo-hazard maps and related

materials, laboratory, remote sensing and other facilities, teaching and
research capabilities of public or private institutions and foundations of like
or similar objectives, alone or in conjunction with others;
 • Create, establish and distribute or cause to be published or distributed
without profit, flood, landslide storm surge hazard and risk maps, books,
information, case studies, or data on climate change, including rainfall and
water level data, disaster risk reduction and management, and other related
subjects as a result of studies, researchers or project made;

• Assist public and private educational institutions in formulating curricular

offerings and instructional materials to support the training and education of
future disaster scientists and acquiring equipment related to natural hazards
and climate change for disaster risk reduction and management;

• Conduct or support training programs, seminars, conferences, and other

continuing education courses on disaster risk reduction and management
throughout the nation as needed.

FUNCTION TO THE GOVERNMENT

The NOAH is the government's newest project designed to help address the
perennial problems brought by ill-informed decision in the face of disasters, some
sort of modern-day Noah's Ark that aims to help save people and property from the
ravages of natural disasters. The project also has information dissemination and
education components to help people understand the various uses of the project. To
educate more people, they will also have instructional videos through DOST, and
plans to integrate use of the maps among communities. They will also have different
methods of information dissemination, including SMS, internet, social media, and
broadcast media. They are also eyeing technologies such as "super WiFi," which
utilizes unused broadcast wavelengths to spread information.

Project NOAH will also allow local governments, the private sector, and most
especially citizens to participate in disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

"We need everyone to participate - we need the private sector, we need the civil
society organizations, we need the media, we need the government institutions, we
need the communities, we need the LGUs, we need the individuals to participate,"
Lagmay said.

The project brings together experts from 21 institutions, both from the public and
private sector, including PAGASA, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology, several universities, and even media and the 3 major telecommunication
companies.

III. COMPONENTS
The program involves eight major components described as follows:
• 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) will be installed along the country’s 18
major river basins (RBs) by December 2013 to provide a better picture of the
country’s surface water in relation to flooding.

• Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light Detection and

Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project. The project, which is targeted to be
completed by 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.

• Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR. The project, which is

targeted to be completed by December 2014, shall use LIDAR technology and
computer-assisted analyses to identify exact areas prone to landslides.

• Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM).

CHASSAM, which is targeted to be completed by December 2014, will generate
wave surge, wave refraction, and coastal circulation models to understand and
recommend solutions for coastal erosion.

• Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project. Targeted to be completed by

December 2013 is a flood center that will provide timely and accurate
information for flood early warning systems. The FloodNET Project will come
up with computer models for the critical RBs, automate the process of data
gathering, modeling and information output, and release flood forecasts.

• 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.

• 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 expected to be deployed to
not less than 50 sites by 2013.

• Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). WHIP involves the utilization

of platforms such as television (DOSTv) and a web portal, 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.

IV. FEATURES

• Weather outlook – you can assess rain probability so easily

• Flood map – anyone can see and monitor flooded areas and how serious they
are

• Weather stations – you can find weather stations nationwide with blue
markers

• Stream gauges – red markers show these gauges

 • Rain gauges – green markers that show places with rain showers

• Doppler – shows a movement of air and rain in real time

V. OTHER MATTERS
ADVANTAGES

The country's flagship disaster prevention and mitigation program aids Filipinos
during times of calamity. Project NOAH maintains a disaster management platform
that provides data available for everyone to use. Project NOAH has literally been a
lifesaver for millions of Filipinos threatened by natural disasters like floods
landslide. Helps the people to know and updated the weather of the Philippines.
Project NOAH will help Filipinos lead a culture of safety, with people more
conscious about disasters and how to confront and address the challenges they face.
What other services can Project NOAH provide Filipinos with? Here’s what you
need to know.

1. It gives timely storm surge

advisories in affected localities.

The public has only become more

aware of storm surges following
the aftermath of Super Typhoon

TIMELY. A sample storm surge hazard map in Gumaca,

Quezon during Typhoon Nina (Nockten) in 2016. Screenshot
from Project NOAH's official blog site
Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 in coastal provinces.

A year after, Project NOAH was able to to create a storm surge warning system that
identifies the parts of a community which will be reached by a storm surge during
typhoons.

It provides advisories to specific coastal communities depending on the predicted

height of storm surges in affected localities, which will be among the basis for
evacuation of local government units (LGUs).

Project NOAH's maps are different in that they are "scenario maps," which simulate
what can happen given a hazard level.

2. It has produced barangay-

level hazard maps.

While other scientific agencies,

like Pagasa, have produced their
own hazard maps, Project
NOAH’s hazard maps for storm
surges, floods, and landslides can
be drilled down to a barangay
level of specificity. These hazard
maps also show which areas are
safe for evacuation.
DETAILED HAZARD MAPS. A screen shot of a sample
storm surge hazard map from Project NOAH.
With its color-coded and
detailed hazard maps, disaster officials would also be aware of which areas were
safe or unsafe for relocation sites. In fact, these are the official maps to be used for
the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of disaster-hit areas. Specifically, maps
used in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in 171 municipalities affected by
Typhoon Yolanda were also from Project NOAH.

3. It provides near real-time weather information.

Project NOAH’s website allows users to see the near real-time and most recent
weather situation in the country.

For example, depending on the colors, it shows the amount of rainfall experienced in
different parts of the country in the past one, 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours, including its
intensity. It can also show the amount of rainfall that is to be expected in specific
areas. These tools aid LGUs and the public in monitoring for possible flooding.
 4. It has created apps and tools
that make disaster preparation
easier.

Arko, an android and iOS mobile

app, gives the user up-to-the-
minute updates on rainfall and
other weather conditions. In an
instant, the app can generate flood
hazard maps within a 2.5-
kilometer radius from one's
location. It now has storm surge
In 2015, Project NOAH relaunched two of its improved apps - and landslide hazard maps too.
Arko and WebSAFE.

DISADVANTAGES

 Project NOAH Executive Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay told GMA News Online
that he lamented the loss of valuable personnel and skilled scientists due to a
lack of adequate and timely compensation.
 Despite its noble ambitions, the NOAH project had been dogged by issues
and roadblocks from the start of its five-year run. One particular difficulty
that hounded NOAH was the bureaucratic processes entrenched in its entire
operations—especially with the disbursement of funds.
 Aside from difficulties in the procurement of equipment and fieldwork
validation activities that required outright financing, there were delays in the
wages of the hired researchers, sometimes for up to five months. This resulted
in the departure of NOAH’s mostly young scientists and researchers. Months
without pay made working difficult, especially for those with families.

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATION

• Climate Change Commission- the Climate Change Commission, which is

attached to the Office of the President, is an independent and autonomous
agency with the same status as that of a national government. It is the sole
policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and
evaluate the programs and action plans.

• NDRRMC-OCD- the National Calamity and Disaster Preparedness Plan is to

ensure effective and efficient implementation of civil protection programme
through an integrated, multi-sectoral and community based approach and
strategies for the protection and preservation of life, property and
environment.
• DSWD- is the executive department of the Philippine Government
responsible for the protection of the social welfare of rights of Filipinos and to
promote social development.

• DILG- responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety and
strengthening local government capability aimed towards the effective
delivery of basic services to the citizenry.

• Department of Agriculture- is the executive department of the Philippine

government responsible for the promotion of agricultural and fisheries
development and growth.

• Department of Health- it is responsible for ensuring access to basic public

health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and
regulation of providers of health goods and services.

• DENR- the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is

responsible for the conservation, management, and development of the
country's environment and natural resources.

• DPWH- is currently responsible for the planning, design, construction and

maintenance of infrastructure, especially the national highways, flood control
and water resources development system, and other public works in
accordance with national development objectives.

• MMDA- the role of the MMDA is to assist the 17 political units in crafting
and implementing an integrated development plan characterized by unity of
purpose, innovation, resiliency, sustainability, adaptability and creativity in
meeting the challenges of transport decongestion, climate change, waste
management

• League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)- the League of

Municipalities of the Philippines - or more simply the League of
Municipalities or LMP - is a formal organization of all the municipalities in
the Philippines. Presently, sixty eight municipalities are part of this
organization.

• League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP)- the League of Cities of the

Philippines – or more simply the League of Cities or LCP – is a formal
organization of all the cities in the Philippines. Presently, 145 cities are part of
this organization.

• Philippine Information Agency (PIA)- the Philippine Information Agency

(PIA) directly serves the Presidency and the Executive Branch on the national,
 regional and provincial levels through its sixteen (16) regional offices and
seventy-one (71) provincial information centers. Provide timely, accurate,
relevant and free-flowing information.

• Open Street Map Philippines- is a collaborative project to create a free

editable map of the world. ... The creation and growth of OSM has been
motivated by restrictions on use or availability of map information across
much of the world, and the advent of inexpensive portable satellite navigation
devices.

• UP NIGS VTEC Laboratory- is a workplace in the National Institute of

Geological Sciences where faculty and students conduct theoretical and
experimental research on the reciprocal influence of volcanoes and their
basement.

• UP DGE-TCAGP- established in 1964 as the research and extension arm of

the Department of Geodetic Engineering, the UP TCAGP is a center of
excellence for education, training and research in the field of geomatics in the
Philippines. In 2001, the center has introduced major changes in its Remote
Sensing and GIS Short course offerings. Coupled with the acquisition of state-
of-the-art equipment, selected short courses were updated and revised to
make training schedules convenient and impart knowledge that is more
responsive and relevant to the needs of the government agencies, industry
and private individuals engaged in the inventory and planning of natural
resources. In 2015, the training program has once again been revitalized by
streamlining its courses to one-month courses to provide a more responsive
approach to knowledge development and capability building with geomatics
technology.

• UP-MSI- installer package (Microsoft Windows) MSI is an installer package

file format used by Windows. Its name comes from the program's original
title, Microsoft Installer, which has since changed to Windows Installer.

• Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD)- it is the Local

Climate Change Adaptation for Development, Inc. ... Practical experiences
and best practices in DRR and climate change impact management will be
shared with local government units, the frontline agencies for climate and
disaster risk reduction.

• Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC)- image result for

Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC)means
• ESSC - is a Jesuit research and training institute that promotes environmental
sustainability and social justice through the integration of scientific
methodologies and social processes. Environmental Science for Social
Change.

• DOST-ASTI- the Advanced Science and Technology Institute is an agency of

the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) mandated to
undertake research and development activities aimed at strengthening and
modernizing Information and Communications Technology and
microelectronics.

• DRRNet- this network focuses its engagement in pushing in the Congress of

Philippines, for a disaster risk management bill to be passed, that incorporates
the Hyogo Framework for Action and the major internationally acceptable
norms in disaster risk reduction/management and community based disaster
risk management.

• UP NIGS EML Laboratory- the Environment Monitoring Laboratory focuses

on water quality and quantity research projects including mapping and
assessment of water pollution, water quality modeling, rainfall forecasting,
flood modeling, and large scale dam monitoring.

• ClimateX Project- according to the ClimateX website, it uses a software that

"calculates the percent chance of rain (PCOR) or probability of rain using
processed infrared and water vapor satellite image data, and processed
Doppler radar data, in combination with the statistical evaluation of historical
rainfall

• World Bank- it also uses funds to modernize a country's financial sector,

agriculture, and natural resources management. The Bank's stated purpose is
to "bridge the economic divide between poor and rich countries." It does this
by turning "rich country resources into poor country growth.

• USAID- the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is

an independent agency of the United States federal government that is
primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development
assistance.

• Google Crisis Response- Google Maps supplies critical crisis information to

the public through search engines. It is used to provide crisis information
such as road closure, areas covered in debris, roads which are passable, and
resources such as for emergency medical stations.
• British Embassy- the British Embassy Manila is keen to ensure that our
building and services are fully accessible to disabled members of the public.

• UK Environment Agency- the Environment Agency (EA) is a non-

departmental public body established in 1995 and sponsored by the United
Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA), with responsibilities relating to the protection and enhancement of
the environment in England (and until 2013 also Wales).

• Cabot Institute, Bristol University- the Cabot Institute for the Environment is
a diverse community of 600 experts, united by a common cause: protecting
our environment and identifying ways of living better with our changing
planet.

• Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Potsdam-

conducts research on topics on the earth and it's environment around the
globe, using a broad range of techniques from the natural sciences
complemented with interdisciplinary networks.

• PAGASA - one of the attached agencies of the Department of Science and

Technology (DOST) under its Scientific and Technical Services Institutes, is
mandated to “provide protection against natural calamities and utilize
scientific knowledge as an effective instrument to insure the safety, well being
and economic security of all the people, and for the promotion of national
progress.”

• PHIVOLCS- is a service institute of the Department of Science and

Technology (DOST) that is principally mandated to mitigate disasters that
may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and other related
geotectonic phenomena.

DATA SOURCES: ( METRO MANILA TO BENEFIT FROM DISASTER

RISK DATA)

 Australian AID: Metro Manila LiDAR data- Australia is one of the

Philippines’ largest development partners, with an estimated PhP5.5 billion
(A$123 million) in development assistance contributions this financial year.
Following a global review of our aid program, the Australian Government
recently reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining or increasing aid to East
Asian developing countries, including the Philippines, where it is found to be
effective. Australia’s commitment to continue working in partnership with
the Government of Philippines to achieve positive development outcomes
 was reaffirmed at the third Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting
(PAMM) in Canberra on 16 June 2011.

 Collective Strengthening of Community Awareness for Natural Disasters

(CSCAND): Metro Manila LiDAR data- AusAID and Geoscience Australia
are working closely on this effort with the NDRRMC, the Office of Civil
Defense, and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and
the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, together known as the Collective
Strengthening of Community Awareness on Natural Disasters (CSCAND)
agencies.

 Government of Japan: JAICA- is a governmental agency that

coordinates Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of
Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing
countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

 Government of Korea: KOICA- was established in 1991 by the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs of South Korea as a governmental organization for Official
Development Assistance(ODA) to enhance the effectiveness of South Korea's
grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing
the government's grant aid and technical cooperation programs.

DATA APPLICATIONS:

 Project NOAH Android: Rolly Rulete and SMART Communications- the

official mobile version of project NOAH was launched by then-DOST
Secretary Mario Montejo and Smart Communications on 17 October 2012. The
app was developed by Rolly Rulete together with Pablito Veroy and Jay
Albano. The mobile application prototype was originally written in HTML5.

 Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center: Flood Patrol app for Android-
the Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC) is a research center
under the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science. It was
established in March 2003 at the Ateneo de Manila University in partnership
with SMART Communications and Sun Microsystems with the aim of
becoming a world-class research and development center. Its mission is to
cultivate research and new product experimentation with the help of faculty,
student and research groups to strengthen the synergy between the academe
and IT industry.
  ABS-CBN Corporation: Project NOAH app for IOS- ABS-CBN and the
Department of Science and Technology have partnered to create a new mobile
application for iOS devices aiming to give Filipinos relevant and timely
weather information.Dubbed "DOST Project NOAH" (Nationwide
Operational Assessment of Hazards)", the weather application brings to
mobile users the interactive experience one would find in the desktop version
of the high-tech weather forecasting tool. Users of the app will be greeted by a
map of the Philippines, which can be viewed in three versions: standard,
satellite and hybrid.

 Pointwest Technologies: Flood Map app for Android/IOS- ARKO, the

mobile application by Pointwest Technologies Corporation, added another
feather to its cap after it took home the Silver Prize in the Corporate Social
Responsibility category of the 2015 ASEAN ICT Awards. The event was held
last 26 November 2015 at the Convention Center of Furuma Resort of Da
Nang, Vietnam.

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. Give at least one (1) service that Project NOAH can provide Filipino people with?

2. What are the Components of Project NOAH?

3. What is the Importance of Project NOAH?

4. How does Project NOAH contribute to PH’s disaster management?

5. How DOST's Project Noah works during calamities?