Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region V

Masbate City Division

District 1

Masbate National Comprehensive High School

City of Masbate

TarpauCatch:
Electronic Automatic Water Conserver,
Rain, And Heat Cover.

A Science Investigatory Project By:

Jaron Kyle D. Corral
Kristofferson A. Villena
Lanz Darwin L. Dimen

Research Teacher:
Ma’am Roxanne A. Natural
 Table Of Contents

Chapter 1: The Introduction

Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Definition of Terms -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Chapter 2: The Body

Statement of the Problem ----------------------------------------------------------------- 7

Hypothesis ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9

Scope and Delimitation of the Study ---------------------------------------------------

10

Significance of the Study -----------------------------------------------------------------

11

The Subject of the Study ----------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Chapter 3: The Preparation

Materials ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13

Methodology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14

Research Design ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16

Chapter 4: The Design and Prototype

Arduino Program ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17

Figure 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17
Figure 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21

Figure 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22

Prototype ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 23

Code Explanation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

Chapter 5: The End

Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 26

Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27

Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 28

Bibliography ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29
 2

Chapter 1: The Introduction

Introduction

The research of one Grade 10 STE group, the E-tarp, is a tarpaulin cover

that automatically activates when raining. Our group decided to modify this by not

only working on rain but also works on heat. We decided to put not only water

sensors on the device but also heat sensors. One main reason that we came up

with this plan is also due to the water shortages and outages here in Masbate City.

Water shortages and outages have occurred lately here in the city. Water is

important to us for we need it to survive. When this device is activated when

raining, this collects water and can serve as water during water shortages or

outages. First, what is a tarpaulin? A tarpaulin is a large sheet of strong, flexible,

water-resistant, or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester. It

is mainly used in cover or shade when it is raining or it is hot outside. Now let me

introduce you to the TapauCatch.

TarpauCatch is an innovative Electronic Automatic Water Conserver, Rain, And

Heat Cover designed to conserve water and protect against the 2 seasons here in

the Philippines. TarpauCatch system brings electronic technology to conserve water

efficiently and effectively. Integrating smart sensors and automated controls

optimizes water usage and ensures that water is being used wisely and minimizing

wastage and promoting long-term effectiveness. TarpauCatch is also a flexible rain

and heat cover providing strong protection against weather conditions. The durable

and weather-resisting materials used in its construction shield outdoor spaces and
equipment, preventing water damage and extending their lifespan. It also acts as a

shield against intense heat, reducing temperature and protecting against other

sun-related problems. Its electronic automation eliminates the use of manual

technology making it user-friendly for both residential and commercial usage. The

machine can be easily installed anywhere you want.

Abstract

TarpauCatch is an innovative Electronic Automatic Water Conserver, Rain,

And Heat Cover designed to conserve water and protect against the 2 seasons here

in the Philippines.

The TarpauCatch will focus on the water shortage and the high heat index

problem. It is an electric tarpaulin that automatically covers your place as soon as

it detects water or heat. The tarpaulin catches the rain and the water goes through

a cleaning process. After the cleaning, you can now use the clean water for many

uses like washing, gardening, and cleaning things. This tarpaulin saves water

problems and covers your place when it is too hot outside or raining. When the rain

or the heat disappears, with just one button, it will close and go back to its original

and closed position. With this, we can help the water problem here in Masbate by

cleaning and using the collected rainwater but it is better to use it when there is a

water shortage. There is also a high heat index here in Masbate. This heat is very

dangerous to our health if we do not take any safety precautions. We have built a

light sensor to detect the light so that when it is hot, it will detect the light and will

automatically cover up the place.

 4

Definition of Terms
Arduino: UNO R3 - The Arduino Uno R3 is a microcontroller board based on a

removable, dual-inline-package (DIP) ATmega328 AVR microcontroller. It has 20

digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs and 6 can be

used as analog inputs). Programs can be loaded onto it from the easy-to-use

Arduino computer program.

Arduino: LCD 1602 module - LCD1602, or 1602 character-type liquid crystal

display, is a kind of dot matrix module to show letters, numbers, characters, and

so on. It's composed of 5x7 or 5x11 dot matrix positions; each position can display

one character.

Arduino: Water lever detection sensor Module – The water sensor brick is designed

for water detection, which can be widely used in sensing rainfall, water level, and

even liquid leakage. Connecting a water sensor to an Arduino is a great way to

detect a leak, spill, flood, rain, etc.

Arduino: Ultrasonic Sensor - The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor uses SONAR to

determine the distance of an object just like the bats do. It offers excellent non-
contact range detection with high accuracy and stable readings in an easy-to-use

package from 2 cm to 400 cm or 1” to 13 feet.

Arduino: F-M Dupont wire - A jump wire (also known as jumper, jumper wire,

DuPont wire) is an electrical wire, or group of them in a cable, with a connector or

pin at each end (or sometimes without them – simply "tinned"), which is normally

used to interconnect the components of a breadboard or other prototype or test

circuit, internally or with other equipment or components, without soldering.

Arduino: 830 Tie-Points Breadboard - BB830 is a solderless (plug-in) breadboard

with 830 connection tie-points (i.e. 830 wire insertion holes) and 4 power rails.

Solderless breadboards are great for building and testing new circuits because

parts can be easily inserted and removed; they are completely reusable.

Arduino: Cable - What is the purpose of an Arduino USB cable? The USB cable

helps you upload programs (aka sketches) to your Arduino and helps you monitor

serial messages in your computer. The USB cable for Arduino plays an important

role in different projects since you can embed the codes of the project into the

Arduino.
 6

Chapter 2: The Body

Statement of the Problem

General Problem:

Global warming is the long-term heating of the Earth’s surface. Global

warming is caused by the release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants

collected and trapped in the atmosphere. Because of global warming, The Earth’s

temperature has been gradually rising since 1880. What is the effect of increasing

temperatures on not just Masbate, but the whole world?

Specific Problem:

What are the major problems contributing to the temperature increase in the

world?

Specific Problem:

What is the effect that will have the biggest impact on the world?

Specific Problem:

How can we protect ourselves from the high temperature?

 7

General Problem 2:

Water is a very important object in our lives. Without water, we cannot

drink, wash or cook. Masbate has been experiencing water shortages for a while

now and we have not been able to fix it. What will happen to the citizens of Masbate

if this problem will not be fixed?

Specific Problem:

How will water shortage affect the lives of the citizens of Masbate?

Specific Problem:

How can we fix the problem quickly and efficiently without it being too

expensive?

Specific Problem:
 If water shortage can affect the health of the people, then how can we save or

cure the affected people?

Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis:

The TarpauCatch will break because it cannot support the weight of the

water collected.

Affirmative Hypothesis:

The TarpauCatch will be able to solve the water shortage problem in

Masbate.
9
 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

Focusing on the water shortages and outages here in Masbate City we can

surely agree that this kind of machine would be a big help. In case of water

shortages or outages, this device can supply water to the 104,000 + citizens of

Masbate City alone (as of the 2020 Census). As the rainy season starts here in the

Philippines, the rain will occur much more often in different places.

Having this in your house can surely save you a lot of water. But even

though we have this we should always think to save our water and use it carefully.

The targeted area of this device in case of emergency would be the people who are

living in the squatters primarily. Secondly, to those who are far from the reach of

water or in other words to those far from the Sea or rivers. "Around 60 percent of

our body is made up of water and we can only live three to five days without fluids.

Water plays many important roles in the body including flushing waste from the

body, regulating body temperature, transportation of nutrients, and is necessary

for digestion." -gundersenhealth.org.

We should always keep in mind that water is one important thing in one

human’s life. Having no water is a dangerous thing that can happen. And giving

you water in that kind of time is the job of our device

10
 Significance of the Study

First, what is the significance of the TarpauCatch on the community? Second,

what is its impact on the community? Last, how can this resolve the water problem

of Masbate? The TarpauCatch’s simple method of preserving water can help anyone

that can maintain its sustainability, The TarpauCatch is also helpful and

significant for sari-sari stores and other vendors.

The impact of this in the community is to help some places being covered

but also save lots of water in case of water shortages or outages. With the

increasing heat this past month, many people have been getting sick so our

TarpauCatch can impact the people or community by providing an automatic heat

or rain cover so that fewer people will get sick. This can also save people that are

battling with intense heat.

By putting a container on the tarpaulin, we can preserve water by catching

the rainfall and saving it. Since summer just ended and it is now rainy season here

in the Philippines, rainfall will be more and more frequent so the TarpauCatch will

be more useful and provide more water to the community. With our simple method

of preserving water, there will always be water to be collected and stored. The

collected rainwater can be cleaned and can now be used once it is cleaned. This

can resolve the water problem of Masbate.

 11
The Subject of the Study

Seeing the community struggling to find water during water shortages and

outages isn't acceptable. Giving them water at that time would be a lot of help. The

only question here 'Where can we get extra water?". Well, there are many answers

to that question. For example, is getting water from the sea or rivers. But it would

only cost so much time also we can't surely agree if the water from the sea or rivers

is clean. Not every water source is clean so always be careful when getting water

from dirty places because dirty water can affect your health. Since getting water is

hard and dangerous, we have developed an easy water collector and preserver for

an easy and efficient water supply for the whole community. With this, people will

not have to risk their lives collecting water from dirty places like, dirty canals, etc.

People will also not go through hard work like pumping water from faraway places

like farms or subdivisions.

 12

Chapter 3: The Preparation

Materials
1. Canvas Tarpaulin

 This will serve as the tarpaulin that is a major part of the project.

2. Container

 This will collect the rainfall.

3. Water Sensor Brick

 This will be used for detecting rainfall.

4. Light Sensor

 This will be used to detect sunlight.

5. Arduino Kit

 A hardware development board used for creating and designing

devices.

6. Strainer

 This will filter all the dust and dirt on the water.
 13

Methodology

Gathering of Materials

Designing the TarpauCatch

Testing and recording

Results and Conclusion

Flowchart of our methodology

14
1.1 Gathering of Materials

The gathering of materials is the first step in our methodology. It is

the process of ordering, buying, and obtaining materials. This process is

quite time-consuming because not all materials are available here and

we have to order online. Things ordered online usually take weeks or

even longer depending on the owners’ location. Our materials like

Assembly of the device
Arduino and sensors are not available here in Masbate so we had to

order online.

Coding and Programming

1.2 Designing the TarpauCatch

The second step is to design the TarpauCatch. Designing is to create,

fashion, execute, or construct according to plan. Designing is to also

form and structure an object. The design of the TarpauCatch must

include design, and structure, and have a proper form to fit all the

necessary components needed.

1.3Assembly of the device

After designing the device, we have to assemble it. Assembling is to fit

or bring together the separate parts of the TarpauCatch. Assembling the

TarpauCatch is also a time-consuming process since there must be no

problems with the wiring and other parts.

15
1.4Coding and Programming

This is the hardest step. Because coding is a very hard skill to learn

and do. Coding makes the Arduino function. Without coding, the device will

never work. Coding is the process of assigning a code for a computer to

follow.

1.5Testing and Recording

This ensures that the device will work as intended. When testing fails,

it will be recorded and we will fix the problem. We will do a minimum of 5

tests and it will all be recorded.

1.6Results and Conclusion

The last and final step. After testing and recording, we will calculate

the results using the data. After calculating the results, we will create the

conclusion which is the final part of the project.

 16

Chapter 4: The Design and Prototype

Arduino Design

Figure 1: Arduino Parts

 Figure 1.1 Arduino: UNO R3

17

Figure 1.2 Arduino: LCD1602 Module

Figure 1.3 Arduino: Water Lever Detection Sensor

Module
 18

Figure 1.4 Arduino: Ultrasonic Sensor

Figure 1.5 Arduino: F-M Dupont Wire

 19

Figure 1.6 Arduino: 830 Tie-Points Breadboard

Figure 1.7 Arduino: Cable

 20

Figure 2: Unfinished Program

Figure 3: Finished and Working Program

22
 Prototype

Code in text:
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
lcd.init();
lcd.backlight();
}
void loop() {
int value = analogRead(A0);
lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Measure");
lcd.print(measure);
lcd.print(" ");
Serial.println(measure);
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.print("W Level :");

if (value == 0) {
lcd.print("Empty ");
} else if (measure > 1 && measure < 250) {
lcd.print("LOW ");
} else if (measure > 250 && measure < 350) {
lcd.print("Medium");
} else if (measure > 350){
lcd.print("HIGH ");
}
}
23
 Code Explanation:

This code contains the I2c library first. Then create an object as

“lcd” for that library and give the I2c address and the length and width

of the LCD we are using.

#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);

  The serial monitor and I2C communication are started in the

void setup. Also, the backlight of the LCD is turned on.

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(9600);

  lcd.init();

  lcd.backlight();

In the void loop, “analogRead” reads the sensor value and inserts

it into the variable “value”. It then displays on the LCD display and the

serial monitor.

  int value = analogRead(A0);

  lcd.setCursor(0, 0);

  lcd.print(“Value :”);

  lcd.print(value);

  lcd.print(”   “);

  Serial.println(value);

  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);

24
  lcd.print(“W Level :”);

Finally, the value is checked in IF condition and the LCD display

is 0 if it is “empty”, 0-350 is “low”, 350-510 is “medium” and 510 is

“high”.

  if (value == 0) {

    lcd.print(“Empty “);

  } else if (value > 1 && value < 350) {

    lcd.print(“LOW   “);

  } else if (value > 350 && value < 510) {

    lcd.print(“Medium”);

  } else if (value > 510){

    lcd.print(“HIGH  “);

 }

25
 Chapter 5: The End
Summary
The Grade 10 STE group developed the TarpauCatch, an innovative

Electronic Automatic Water Conserver, Rain, and Heat Cover designed to conserve

water and protect against the two seasons in the Philippines. The TarpauCatch

system utilizes electronic technology to conserve water efficiently and effectively,

integrating smart sensors and automated controls. The device collects water when

raining and uses it to protect against water shortages and outages.

A tarpaulin is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant, or waterproof

material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester. It is mainly used in cover or

shade when it is raining or hot outside. The TarpauCatch is an electric tarpaulin

that automatically covers your place as soon as it detects water or heat. The

tarpaulin catches the rain and the water goes through a cleaning process, allowing

clean water for various uses like washing, gardening, and cleaning.

The TarpauCatch is designed to help with water shortages and high heat

index problems in Masbate City. Its light sensor detects the light and automatically

covers the area when it is hot. This not only helps protect some areas but also

saves water in case of water shortages or outages. The TarpauCatch can be used to

collect and store water, as the rainy season in the Philippines is more frequent. By

storing collected rainwater, it can be used for various purposes, such as washing,

gardening, and cleaning. This innovative solution not only helps protect against

water shortages but also provides a solution to the water problem in Masbate City.

26
 Results

After testing the program, it was successful. The water sensor was able to

detect the water and its level. When you put the Sensor on water, it will detect the

water level and be presented on the screen. Empty will be displayed on the LCD

when it does not detect any water. When the water level is between 1 – 350 it is

considered low. When the water level is between 350-510 it is considered medium.

When the water level is 510 or above is considered as high.

27
 Conclusion

The essay presents an innovative solution called TarpauCatch, which is an

Electronic Automatic Water Conserver, Rain, and Heat Cover designed to address

water conservation and protection against the seasons in the Philippines,

particularly in Masbate City. The system integrates smart sensors and automated

controls to optimize water usage, minimize wastage, and promote long-term

effectiveness. It also acts as a rain and heat cover, protecting outdoor spaces and

equipment from water damage and intense heat. The essay highlights the

importance of water preservation, particularly during water shortages and outages,

and highlights the potential impact of TarpauCatch on the community.

The TarpauCatch device can provide clean water for many things, such as

washing, gardening, and cleaning, by collecting and cleaning rainwater. It can

potentially help alleviate water problems in Masbate City, which has a population

of over 104,000 people. The device is particularly beneficial for individuals living in

squatter areas and those far from water sources like the sea or rivers. By utilizing a

simple method of preserving water, the TarpauCatch aims to ensure a steady

supply of water and improve water access in the community.

The TarpauCatch can also impact the community by reducing the number of

illnesses caused by intense heat and providing an automatic cover during rain or

heat waves. We emphasize the importance of water in human life and the dangers

of water scarcity. The TarpauCatch can contribute to the well-being of individuals

and address the water problem in Masbate City by collecting and storing rainwater.

Overall, The TarpauCatch device has a positive impact on the community by

conserving water, providing protection against weather conditions, improving water

access during shortages or outages, and reducing the health risks associated with

intense heat.

28
 References

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101#warming

pololu.com/product/2191

https://www.instructables.com/LCD-1602-With-Arduino-Uno-R3/

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/arduino/arduino_water_detector_sensor.htm

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/arduino/arduino_ultrasonic_sensor.htm

https://learn.adafruit.com/lesson-0-getting-started/breadboard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_wire

29