Widespread fires would soon be a thing of the past as a Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD)-funded technology maps out fire hazards and where it may spread, helping authorities to outsmart the disaster.

Firecheck, a fire hazard mapping and fire spread modeling project implemented by the University of the Philippines - Cebu, seeks to provide emergency fire responders and officials, strategic planners, and policy-makers a wealth of information for fire disaster assessment and risk evaluation to be able to combat, if not mitigate, the negative consequence of fire.

UP Cebu Professor and Firecheck Project Leader Aileen Joan Vicente said Firecheck’s hazard maps identify highly-dense residential areas in the cities that are prone to fire incidents considering the construction materials used in the area, building density, and urban heat island.

“Fire hazard mapping is a vital step in acknowledging fire as an inevitable disaster that must be accommodated similarly to how we prepare  for disasters,” she said.

Vicente said that besides the hazard maps, her team also created 3D maps of high-risk communities and fire spread models and simulation that can provide predictive information on the possible extent of the fire and its potential damage. 

She said that information from these maps, models, and simulations can be used to improve pre-fire plans, evacuation plans, and investment plans for fire fighting facilities and mitigation plans.

At present, Vicenete’s team is working with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Planning and Development Office, and Bureau of Fire Protection  (BFP) Regional Office 7 to cover the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu in verifying the fire hazard maps that they have created.

She noted that they are also testing the FireCheck Attribution App, a mobile application that can display the community’s 3D maps tagged with information necessary for pre-fire response planning such as building properties and road attributes.

Vicente said that they have tested this app during their pilot field survey in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City and is now undergoing modifications to improve its features.

She added that her team will train more users on the  mobile app, develop evacuation plans, and validate the generated maps.

“It is now high-time that not only Metro Cebu, but also the whole country, take a scientific and proactive approach to fire disasters based on adequate preparedness, prevention, and mitigation, ensuring that the fire will be put out even before it begins,” she said.

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit expressed confidence that the project will greatly benefit fire authorities in mitigating and controlling damage with the use of modern technology.

“With Firecheck, we can provide a smart solution in increasing the community’s resiliency against fire disasters.  We look forward to the day that Firecheck spreads across the nation and ignites the consciousness of our Filipino people in using technology to outsmart natural and man-made disasters,” he said.

 

USHER Lead Inventor Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy of Mapua University and Chief Technology Officer Engr. Donato Santiago receive their prizes at the 2019 World Summit Awards in Lisbon, Portugal.

Besting 430 nominations from 182 participating countries, Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording System (USHER), a Department of Science and Technology-funded technology, was selected as one of the forty-five (45) Global Winners of the World Summit Awards (WSA) and the only Southeast Asian winner in the category "Smart Settlements and Urbanization".

USHER Technologies won the award for its cost-effective 24/7 Structural Health Monitoring System for buildings and bridges that enables economical and hassle free compliance to the National Building Code. It is composed of an accelerograph sensor and a web portal system that can be installed in building of all types, allowing building managers to monitor the structural integrity of the building.

WSA is a highly diverse and democratic award system that selects and promotes the world’s best digital innovation with impact on society. Running for 15 years, it has become a quality seal for digital content with societal impact. WSA is also a nomination-based award system - for a technology to be included in the winners’ circle, it has to be nominated by a WSA National Expert as the best national digital application in one of the 8 categories based on the following criteria: Content, Functionality, Design, Technology, and Innovation.

Compared to other existing products, USHER streamlined and tailored the system to fix the local market at a remarkably lower cost while still offering a complete solution to ensure business continuity. Last 2018, USHER won the Best R&D Award during the 8^th Anniversary of DOST-PCIEERD.

DOST-PCIEERD’s Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit lauded the USHER Team for bagging the award and showing to the world how local technologies can be world-class. “We congratulate USHER for showing to the world what we can do here in the Philippines and how we can optimize innovation to the benefit of the Filipino people.  USHER’s win is an icing already to the number of lives that they have been saving with the technology they developed,” he said.

USHER Lead Inventor Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy expressed elation over the recognition given to them by WSA.  “Now we are more than ready to distribute USHER in the Philippines and we hope that with this international confirmation, we patronize technologies of our own people that was made by our people, for our people in USHERing a safer and more resilient Philippines,” he said.

As one of the winners of the WSA, the team was invited to attend the WSA Congress to personally receive their awards during the awarding ceremony. They also had the opportunity to network with the other global winners, speakers, jurors and international guests. The DOST PCIEERD provided financial support for the attendance of the two members of the team to the WSA Congress.

Among the perks of being a WSA winner is the integration of USHER into a network of internationally recognized digital content developers. They will also have access to the WSA community of global experts and industry leaders in over 180 countries and special placement on WSA website, Youtube channel and social media promotion. The WSA is a non-monetary award system with a focus on sustainable knowledge transfer through a worldwide network. Winners benefit not from a one-time financial reward, but a lifelong partnership and integration.

 

 

Team FLAME (From Left to Right) Adrian Robert Doroteo, Engr. Ericson Dimaunahan, Alec Denji Santos, Emmanuel Freeman Paloma and Jacob Martin Manguiat

Senior high school students from Manila have developed an internet-based fire alarm system that can notify your phone if a fire breaks out in your home.

Developed by students from the Mapua University through funding assistance from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), FLAME which stands for, “Fire Luminosity and Multisensory Equipment”, is a device that uses heat signature mapping and a multi-sensor system to detect if there is a fire and notify the homeowner through an app.

Funded under the Young Innovators Program (YIP), Project FLAME sought to reduce the number of casualties and property destroyed by fire by providing a faster and reliable information to authorities.

The students used a thermal imaging camera, a current sensor and a gas sensor all of which were connected to the internet through which data output came from their developed algorithm. Using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the developed system is able to monitor heat irregularities and other fire hazards using video image analysis and create an accurate early detection system. With its double trigger feature, accuracy is secured because it will only alarm when a heat irregularity is shown in the heat map and a fire hazard sensor is triggered.

 

 

An ARMS of prevention can be better than a pound of cure.

Amidst the water scarcity hitting the Philippines, a technology funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the National Water Resources Boards (NWRB) may yet be the key in averting a water crisis.

The Automated Real-time Monitoring System (ARMS) for Dams and Reservoir, a technology developed by Mapua University employs wireless sensors to provide the NWRB, the regulating agency for all water resources development and management activities in the country, access to real-time data on water levels and a decision support tool for the daily management of the reservoirs.

In cooperation with the National Power Corporation, the dam administrator, Mapua was able to deploy the ARMS system in the cascading Ambuklao, Binga, and San Roque dams along the Agno River. The cost-effective ARMS system provide NWRB real-time data on water level, rainfall, humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, soil moisture, and wind speed--all hydrological parameters necessary for monitoring water availability and managing the reservoirs.

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit is confident that this technology can help government in mitigating risks in watersheds like drought and floods as it provides real-time data on the conditions of the dams.

“We can outsmart water scarcity by employing smart technologies and using real data to create science-based decisions and policies to ensure ample water supply.  ARMS is locally developed, making it a cost-effective tool for our water companies,” he said.

ARMS project leader Francis Aldrine Uy said all of the data coming from the deployed sensors are received in real-time to the office of the NWRB.

 

“These data help the NWRB and dam operators in making smart decisions regarding dam operation specifically in the utilization of water,” he said.

Screenshot of the dashboard of the ‘Arms4dams’ web portal for the real-time monitoring of the dams.

Uy said that for data storage and archiving, the web portal “Arms4Dams” was also developed for information viewing at different access levels for the public, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.

“Since data is transmitted in real-time, data retrieval is also available at the portal wherein users can view information from past occurrences of rainfall,” he said.

Uy said data gathered from the ARMS system can also be used for hydrologic simulations that can predict water availability among the monitored dams.

“These simulations can also help dam operators prepare for various climates and the effects that come with it. For this purpose, the ARMS system has also designed a model that can accurately and visually reflect these information on water levels,” he said.

Uy added that these data can be used for hydraulic simulations that can alert operators on possible dam overflow, therefore providing readiness for water discharge and evacuation in the area as needed.

He expressed hopes that ARMS can be deployed in all dams in the country to help government officials and dam operators in managing the water resource.

“Better water resource management is within ARMS reach with our system as we can have predictive analysis in the future and create science-based decisions on our water resource,” he said.

In the future, ARMS will also be installed and deployed in Magat and Pantabangan Dams and Reservoirs in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration.

 

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is set to unveil the Philippines’ first Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) which aspires to be the country’s leading research center in innovative 3D printing technologies, processes, and materials.

DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit expressed optimism on the prospects of Additive Manufacturing, more popularly known as 3D printing, in the country as it move towards Industry 4.0.

“Additive manufacturing has limitless potentials--from aircrafts and automobile to medical and fashion applications--it is possible to create products for the same or lower cost without compromising quality.  We are hopeful that with the establishment of AMCen we can see more researches geared towards this cutting-edge technology,” he said.

Additive manufacturing, allows rapid fabrication of various three-dimensional objects ranging from small parts and components, to three-dimensional structures such as cars, houses, and bridges. AMCen aims not only to have a user access facility but also to enhance R&D activities with the industry and academia.

This initiative will harness, strengthen, and expand the country’s capabilities in 3D printing and advanced design and manufacturing in the following areas: 1) Aerospace and Defense, 2) Biomedical/Healthcare, 3) Printed Electronics, 4) Agricultural Machinery, and 5) Automotive.

Balik Scientist and Case Western Reserve University professor, Dr. Rigoberto Advincula said that AMCen presents a unique position for the Philippines as it will be one of the first government-led centers in the ASEAN region that aspires to be a game-changer leading to Industry 4.0 goals.

Dr. Advincula will be leading the development of the center together with  researchers from the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).

The AMCen will be featuring two state-of-the-art research facilities that are seen to spur interest in Additive Manufacturing Research, namely: Multiple Materials Platform for Additive Manufacturing (MATDEV) and the Research on Advanced Prototyping for Product Innovation and Development using Additive Manufacturing Technologies (RAPPID-ADMATEC).

The MATDEV will be the laboratory-scale facility for design, materials development, and testing for additive manufacturing prototyping wherein materials such as ceramics, polymers, nanomaterials, and any combination of two or more of these materials will be developed and optimized. The facility guarantees reduction in material cost, lead time, importation, and wastage.

Materials development for additive manufacturing application shall be coupled with the recommendation or adoption of applicable standards particularly those critical applications of the technology.

On the other other hand, RAPPID-ADMATEC will provide the technology needed to create more innovative designs and speed up prototyping by reducing fabrication and processing time of components and products. Moreover, it will focus on the development and production of complex metal-based parts and materials using metal powders, cater to the production or localization of obsolete parts or repair and replacement of components to increase availability and reliability of existing equipment, as well as to improve manufacturing strategies and product quality through R&D, product development, consultancy and training services. (30)

 

For reference:

Dr. Rigoberto Advincula’s interview fo AMCen with DOSTv: https://www.facebook.com/DOSTvPH/videos/303892663806679/UzpfSTM1Nzg4ODI1NDM0ODI2NDoxMzk1NjY3ODkzOTAzNjIz/?q=dost%20pcieerd%20rigoberto%20advincula&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Dr. Rigoberto Advincula’s interview as Balik Scientist with DOSTv:

https://www.facebook.com/DOSTvPH/videos/602951723490719/UzpfSTM1Nzg4ODI1NDM0ODI2NDoxMzk2NDIwMzQ3MTYxNzEx/?q=dost%20pcieerd%20rigoberto%20advincula&epa=SEARCH_BOX