Below is a sample 'Introduction' for an engineering project. This research project was done by Dennise Alfaro, Genette Solis, Kenneth Rowel Reyes and was recognized during the 2013 Division and Regional Science Fairs. In 2014, this project qualified to the Final 10 of Research Fair held at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
DESIGN OF AN EARLY WARNING FLOOD LEVEL INDICATOR
INTRODUCTION
Flood events are a part of nature which is caused by natural and human activities such as heavy rainfall, coastal flooding, deforestation, poor farming, poor water management, and population pressure. These causes the disasters which later on may harm, if not, kill people especially if they are unaware of it beforehand. Bongolan, Ballesteros, Banting, Olaes & Aquino (2010) stated that 80% of Metro Manila was covered in waters during rainy seasons that in some parts were nearly two meters deep, considering that it is compared to a normal August worth of rain which dumps on the city in 48 hours.
Cavite City is recurrently affected by flood because of heavy rainfall during August and September with minimal rains on June, July and October. Due to widespread flooding, Cavite was placed under a state of calamity last August 2013 with reports of death and missing people (Mangosing and Sabillo, 2013). Schools, especially Cavite National High School is more frequently dumped with flood water because it is located in a low land area and because of this, classes are always interrupted if not, suspended.
Flood forecasting and warning is a prerequisite for successful mitigation of flood damage. Also, preventive measures should be taken to reduce possible adverse effects of floods on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, such as water and soil pollution. Its effectiveness depends on the level of preparedness and correct response. The responsible 2 authorities should provide timely and reliable flood warning, flood forecasting and information (The Association of State Floodplain Managers, 2003).
Flood alarms are often used by people in detecting the level of water during rainy seasons. Most of the flood alarms available in the market commend high price and complex usage. To address such problem with the lack of early warning device for floods in the community, this study is conducted to create a scrap-made flood alarm that is cheaper and effective compared to the commercially introduced ones. The main consideration is the simplicity of the device wherein anyone can simply use and manipulate it.
Statement of the Problem
After conducting this study, it is expected that an early warning device that can detect increase in flood water level rise will be developed. Furthermore, this study aims:
- to create a flood alarm device from scrap materials;
- to test the functionality of the device; and
- to determine how far the buzzing sound of the alarm reach.
Significance of the Study
The use of flood alarm during rainy seasons is of great help in determining the level of flood water and informing people of various levels of water in different land areas. The created flood alarm can be used by the different members of the society:
Household. Families can build their own flood alarm for them to determine if flood water is high enough to enter their houses.
Flood-prone areas. Areas that is usually damaged by flood can produce their own alarm in order to develop their awareness especially if they already need to evacuate and secure their protection.
School. Schools can build their own flood alarms in order for the students, teachers and others to know if the flood water in their school is high for them to have a suspension of classes.
Hydrologists. This study will be used as additional information about the development of scrap-made flood alarm to be widely used in our country.
Scope and Limitations
The study focuses on the creation of an alarm system for detecting increase in flood water level. The device is made of pail, pipes and buoy and buzzer divided into three alarm systems that alarms when the set level of water is reached such as 4-in, 8-in and 12-in. The sound produced by the device in the study is only limited to its maximum range when tested. The effectiveness of the device was assessed through placing it on flood prone area in Cavite National High School.
The study was conducted from July until September 2013 at Cavite National High School, Cavite City.
Literature Cited:
BONGOLAN, V.P., F.C. BALLESTEROS, J.A.M. BANTING, A.M.Q. OLAES AND C.R. AQUINO. 2010. Metaheuristics in flood disaster management and risk assessment. Presented at 8th National Conference on Information Technology Education. 20-23, October 2010.
MANGOSING, F. AND K.A. SABILLO. 2013. 5 province, key cities, other areas under state of calamity- NDRRMC. < http://www.inquirer.net
/philippine-election- 2013/ articles/ 471315> date accessed 28 August 2013.
THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS. 2003. Best Practices on Flood Prevention, Protection and Mitigation. < http://www.
floods.org /PDF/Intl_BestPractices_ EU_2004.pdf > date accessed 05 July 2013.