A research and development collaboration between the Royal Irrigation Department and the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute

Background

Flooding and drought are of paramount importance and result in significant economic and social losses every year. Therefore, to give warning, minimize loss, and manage water resource management under normal situation, it is necessary to measure rainfall and water level. Typical telemetry system used is SCADA which is big in size and is costly, thus it is not practical to install as many numbers as expected for extensive coverage.

Consequently, the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (when it was under the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center) has developed a small remote sensing device called mobile telemeter. It is small, portable, and can be used to replace or supplement the operation of SCADA telemetry system for rainfall and water level measurements. The data is transmitted automatically in real time and is displayed via internet GIS (Geographic Information System). This will be beneficial for disaster preparation including flood warning in risk areas. The project is the collaboration between the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and HAII to create mobile telemeters.

Objective

1. Develop mobile telemetry system to measure rainfall and stream water level and to send data automatically in real-time. Targets are 16 sets of telemeters upstream of reservoirs and 5 sets in the Chao Phraya river basin.
2. Link and provide visualization in the geographic information system format via internet (Internet GIS).
3. Transmit data into a server at the Royal Irrigation Department and other related agencies.

Target areas

• Northern region: 7 sets
• Loei river basin: 5 sets
• Lum Ta Kong river basin: 4 sets
• Lum Pra Plerng river basin: 2 sets
• Prachinburi province: 1 set
• Srakaew province: 3 sets
• Trad province: 1 set
• Western region (Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Petchaburi, Pranburi) 6 sets

*There are 22 sets of telemeters currently in use, and can be divided into 2 groups.

1) Permanent installation: 5 sets are in the Chao Phraya river basin at the hydrological stations including C2 Nakhon Sawan station, station downstream from Chao Phraya dam, Rama VI station, Pak Hai station (Noi river), and Lopburi estuary station.

2) Mobile telemeters: Originally they were installed in northern basins including 8 sets at upstream area of Kiu Lom reservoir and 8 sets at upstream area of Lum Pao reservoir (for a 3-month period).  Later, the telemeters were moved and installed in western and upper southern regions instead. 8 sets were at Lum Pra Plerng reservoir and 8 sets were at the upstream area of Kang Krachan dam, Petchaburi river basin, and Pranburi (3 months).

In 2004, the mobile telemetry system was setup and tested at different RID sites that required automatic real-time transmission of rainfall and stream water level data such as Petchaburi, Pranburi, Chao Phraya, Chantaburi, and Ping river basins. At that time, those sites did not have any telemetry system. Problems arise during the trial usage period led to significant improvement of the telemeters and resulted in learning experiences.

In 2005, 13 mobile telemeters were installed in Rayong province to monitor hourly rainfall as a part of the effort to solve severe drought problem. The installation took 3 days total or 3 hours per site and data was transmitted immediately after installation. Therefore, rainfall situation was observed quickly and systematically.

All data statistics are archived and accessible, and instant warning messages were sent via short messaging service (SMS) through cellular phones.

Telemeter components
Components can be divided into 4 groups based on functional characteristics.
1) Device sending data instantly (PICNIC). This model was developed from the original model from Japan.
2) Device recording data over time (Data logger). This is
3) Sensors for rainfall and water level measurements. The water level sensor is developed by HAII and the rainfall sensor is imported and has an international standard.
4) Communication device to send data via mobile network GPRS system or other suitable means. It was developed by the National Electronics

Expected outcome
Mobile telemeter system used for rainfall and stream water level measurements in flood risk areas that currently do not have regular measurements.  Data would be integrated and visualized on the internet GIS and be used for disaster management of both flooding and droughts.