The rain has been pouring down on Singapore for the last few days, which means we have hit the RAINY season!
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced recently that the agencies are working with A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research to trial a flood detection system this season.
The system has the abilities to monitor and detect flooding with the power of image analytics technology. This technology works by scanning live PUB CCTV footage to capture data from flood waters.
About 170 CCTV’s and 200 water level sensors make up the PUB flood monitoring system. This system operates around-the-clock in the PUB operations centre. The image analytics technology will be an asset to PUB’s extensive flood monitoring efforts during this year’s monsoon season.
“We are always on the lookout for ways to enhance our flood monitoring efforts. Over the years, we have expanded our network of water level sensors which send out alerts when water levels in drains and canals hit a certain level. The automated detection of floods through the CCTV image analytics technology will aid in speedier alerts and quick response amidst increasing volume of data that comes in.” stated Mr Ridzuan Ismail, Director of Catchment and Waterways, PUB.
The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) reported that Singapore can expect the Monsoon Season to commence in early December 2015 and run through the end of January 2016. MSS will be issuing warnings for heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain occurrences.
As long as you are connected, you can get real-time information on the monsoon conditions from anywhere. To get more information during events of heavy rain, the public can:
- Access the NEA mobile app ‘MyENV’
- Refer to the PUB website
- Refer to PUB’s Facebook and Twitter
- Download PUB’s free mobile app ‘MyWaters’
- Subscribe to the PUB free SMS alert service
- Subscribe to the MSS free heavy rain warning SMS alert service
If there is an immediate concern, the public is urged to contact PUB’s 24/7 Call Center at 1(800)CALL-PUB.
