The Development of Water Level Monitoring System for Flood Warning

Jaeyong YOO, Changhwan KIM, Wonsu OHK, JaeMin SHIM, Mansik SON

Abstract

This system was developed in the wake of heavy storm damage in Gwangwon-Do in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The loss of lives, property and agricultural products was progressively greater each time., The extensive

economic loss restricted industry activities, further adding to the troubles, but also provoking an awakening

of official concern. Thus the Gangwon government developed the Flood Warning System based on the remote

ultra sonic water level meter to help reduce loss of life and damages by floods. An almost equally important

aim referred to the obvious need to manage water resources more closely. Using the system, Kwangwon

government officers are offering early detection of hazardous flood conditions. They can do this because storm

flow volume can be monitored to provide input to disaster modelling and decision support for planning and

executing the emergency response

Keywords : Flood Warning, Remote Water Level Measure System, Real Time

1. Backgrounds

This system was developed in the wake of heavy storm

damage in Gwangwon-Do in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The

loss of lives, property and agricultural products was

progressively greater each time., The extensive economic

loss restricted industry activities, further adding to the

troubles, but also provoking an awakening of official

concern.

Director, Geography and Environment Institute of

TGW.

jyyoo@tgw.co.kr

Thus the Gangwon government developed the Flood

Warning System to help reduce loss of life and damages

by floods. An almost equally important aim referred to

the obvious need to manage water resources more

closely. The first step, in decision support was seen to be

meeting a need to up-grade the recording of storm-water

discharge data and information. An almost equally

important aim referred to the obvious need to manage

water resources more closely. They can do this

because storm flow volume can be monitored to provide

input to disaster modelling and decision support for

planning and executing the emergency response.

Figure 1. Demage by Rusa ,2003(Gangneung , Korea)

2. Flood warning system for Gangwon-Do

This system is built on the models described in earlier

chapters. It provides "real-time" information about

Storm-water runoff: discharge rate and total discharge

volume at critical area (for instance, lower bank area and

bridge point,) and vulnerable channel cross-section.

Main system functions are 1) Real-time monitoring of

water level, 2) Estimation of storm discharge rate and

volume, 3) flood forecasting and providing statistical

information about storm discharge rate and volume at

points over various terms.

Using the system, Gangwon government officers are

offering early detection of hazardous flood conditions.

They can do this because storm flow volume can be

monitored to provide input to disaster modelling and

decision support for planning and executing the

emergency response. This system recorded real-time

water level and discharge data at selected sites, at

(typically) 1 to 60 minute intervals (rainy seasons: 1-5

minute, others: more than 30 minute: recording and

transmission times may be more frequent during critical

events). Operation was controlled remotely. The Water

Level Sensor (WLS) data are relayed, within seconds, to

Kwangwon disaster management offices via a CDMA

network and radio.

3. Remote water level measure system (ultra-

sonic level metre)

This system is for gathering the data of stream water

level through digital wireless communication in real time,

automatically. Compared to the existing measuring

systems used to log stream water level data regularly and

manually, this system collects the data minute by

minute and sends them to a database server directory in

real time. Users can use this data for real time flooding

risk warning and for water resource management. Also,

the data from this system can be used for define

hydrological structure, travel time, peak discharge rate,

discharge volume, infiltration rate, etc.

Figure 2. System structure of the flood warning system recently adopted by the Gangwon-Do Government

Figure 3. Concept of stream water level Monitoring

Wireless Remote transmission of

water level & precipitation

Operating Monitoring and

warning system : Predictive

analysis/simulation/statistics

Alert system for local governemnt

Alarm/evacuation/safety

CDMACDMACDMACDMA Data logerData logerData logerData loger State government briefing room State government briefing room State government briefing room State government briefing room

(system sever)(system sever)(system sever)(system sever)

Fire wall

LGA briefing room

Risk Alert Internet services

Internet protocol

Remote control & data receiving

Measure precipitation

Measure water level

Warning Line

Water level Line

Escape Line

<Main menu and WLS stations>

<Water level for time flow>

<Gangneung area and WLS stations >

<Statistical analysis of water level>

Figure4. Main Modules of the system

Figure 5. WLS stations

4. Conclusion

In recent years there has been an increasing recognition

and concern that remote water level monitoring system

affects a wide variety of issues. Urban expansion and

consolidation is leading to increasing loads and

complexities in storm-water drainage management.

As the importance of remote water level monitoring

system for Gangwon government is increasingly

recognized, some communities are starting to develop

comprehensive urban water management programs for

various

purposes. These include fresh and, storm-water water

management systems and (or) water pollution

management systems

Figure 6. Effectiveness and future works

Water resourceWater resourceWater resourceWater resource

Government/CouncilGovernment/CouncilGovernment/CouncilGovernment/Council

TechnicalTechnicalTechnicalTechnical

ApplicationsApplicationsApplicationsApplications

Economical Economical Economical Economical

� Planning for preventing disasters Improvement of reliability

� Safeguard of citizen

� Prediction of time coming risk � Prediction of area coming risk � Operation of various alarm sys.

_

� Water resource management � Decision support for river maintenance � proffer basic discharge quantity info for estimation of

pollution load

� Guarantee of safe area : increase of tourists � Reduce of restoration

expenditure after flood disaster

Water levelWater levelWater levelWater level Flow velocityFlow velocityFlow velocityFlow velocity

PrecipitationPrecipitationPrecipitationPrecipitation

Flood monitoring and warning system

Freedom from dangerFreedom from dangerFreedom from dangerFreedom from danger

Water polusionWater polusionWater polusionWater polusion

Acknowledgement

* This research was conducted as part of the project

“ The establishment of remote water level meter “ by

the Gangwon-Do and TGW Co.