Promoting digital transformation in the field of irrigation and disaster prevention

In recent years, the impact of climate change has made natural disasters increasingly complex and unpredictable. Therefore, enhancing the application of science and technology and digital transformation in the field of irrigation and disaster prevention is a necessary and urgent task to improve the quality of direction, operation and response, and avoid being passive in all situations.

Automatic surveillance cameras at the Nam Thach Han headquarter project help monitor and observe the project's operations during drought and flood conditions - Photo: LA

Within the framework of funding from the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, in 2023, the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue (PCTT&TKCN) was supported to equip a system of office machinery and equipment to connect and operate synchronously with a system of 16 surveillance cameras at key locations for natural disasters in 5 districts and towns including Huong Hoa, Dakrong, Vinh Linh, Gio Linh, Quang Tri town and Con Co island district; 4 automatic water level measuring stations connected to 4 automatic flood warning stations for the community were installed in Hai Dinh and Hai Phong communes, Hai Lang district and Trieu Do and Trieu Dai communes, Trieu Phong district.

Since their operation, these systems have effectively supported the direction and operation of natural disaster response. In particular, the camera surveillance system at spillways that are often cut off due to floods in mountainous areas, with independent technology in electricity and internet, has supported the timely monitoring of flood levels, warning the community to have a plan to ensure safety; cameras at storm shelters monitor and direct plans for boats to take shelter from storms; cameras at key irrigation works help monitor and observe the operation of irrigation works in drought and flood conditions...

Automatic water level measuring stations in low-lying areas help monitor water levels conveniently, especially connecting automatic warning stations with loudspeakers will promptly warn people to proactively take measures to prevent rain, floods and inundation.

In addition to transmitting general data including images, figures... to the focal office, warning information and data are also shared for exploitation by all levels of government and people to be proactive in production, daily life and prepare prevention plans, ensure safety and minimize damage.

In particular, connecting this system with the online meeting room of the standing office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control with districts, towns and cities to organize online meetings when natural disasters occur has contributed to providing quick and timely information to serve the direction and operation of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and the Provincial People's Committee.

According to Head of the Irrigation and Disaster Prevention Sub-Department Le Quang Lam, in recent times, the research, enhancement of application of science and technology, digital transformation in the field of irrigation and disaster prevention have been implemented quite comprehensively by the unit and localities, achieving many positive results.

Up to now, 100% of administrative procedures in the fields of irrigation, dykes and disaster prevention and control meet the conditions for implementation in the online environment to ensure maximum service requirements and minimize costs for organizations and individuals in implementing administrative procedures.

The database system, information and statistics in the field are provided and shared publicly on the website of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the IOC page of the province.

Research and application of advanced irrigation models and technologies to save water have been carried out in a number of production areas, expanding the irrigation area for upland crops to nearly 1,000 hectares, bringing about clear results, ensuring water supply, contributing to improving productivity and product value, and proactively adapting to drought.

The application of new materials and technologies in the design and construction of hydraulic works brings positive results, ensuring suitability with the actual situation, efficiency in difficult field conditions, and shortening construction time.

Deploy, install, exploit and effectively operate a system of 35 automatic people's rain gauge stations and automatic, visual natural disaster monitoring, surveillance and warning stations to effectively serve the work of warning, forecasting, directing and operating natural disaster response in the province.

In particular, it has provided and shared free information to the community through the website and Vrain software application installed on smartphones or computers to ensure proactive production and disaster response requirements.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has built a fanpage on natural disaster prevention and control to promptly provide warnings, forecasts, developments of natural disasters and directives and management documents to the community.

Applying WebGIS technology, Google Earth software, Mapinfo to create current status maps, build information and data bases on irrigation systems, rural clean water, dykes, landslides and PCTT, exploit and promote efficiency, improve the quality of management, direction and operation in the field.

Deploying measurement, coordinate positioning, mapping the dike protection corridor at the Ben Hai left dike line, digitizing, synchronizing to Google Earth software to serve the management, monitoring and supervision of activities in the dike corridor.

In addition, specialized software and information technology are also applied to water resource forecasting activities according to river basins to serve the development of water use plans for economic sectors and the direction and operation of drought response in the province.

Put into operation the software for management, regulation and information on irrigation water sources at Bao Dai, La Nga and Sa Lung works to serve the management, regulation and drought prevention work in a timely and effective manner. Receive, upgrade step by step to modernize and effectively operate the system of equipment and machinery at the Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue.

“Promoting digital transformation in the field of irrigation and disaster prevention and control, on the one hand, helps authorities improve their ability to forecast and warn of natural disasters and have timely and effective response plans. On the other hand, implementing new utilities in propaganda, communication, and providing necessary and timely information will help the community move from passive response to proactive prevention,” Mr. Lam added.

Le An

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/day-manh-chuyen-doi-so-trong-linh-vuc-thuy-loi-va-phong-chong-thien-tai-188382.htm