Grate,a et al flood warning system using gsm imrad journal vol 1 oct 2017

IMRaD Journal Vol. 1 Oct. 2017

FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM USING GSM Jackie-lou B. Balbarino Russell Aaron S. Tolentino Engr. Arlene C. Grate

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract-Recent advancements in wireless communications made new trends in monitoring systems. The most popular standard for mobile phones in the world is Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). This paper demonstrates the design and development process of a flood warning system that incorporates the use of GSM module for information dissemination.

This project is a five-level system donated by Columban College to Barangay Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales because the area is low level an beside a river making it the catch basin from higher grounds. Herewith, the warning messages will be received by authorities when the level of water surpasses the user defined height. It also shows the current water level in an LCD display.

Keywords: Flood Warning System (FWS), GSM, SMS, Water level indicator, float switch

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Introduction The Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a European standard that was developed to provide a common second-generation technology for all Europe. The aim was to replace a number of incompatible first-generation technologies.

(Forouzan, 2007). GSM was expanded over time to include data communications, first by circuit switched transport, then packet data transport via GPRS (General PacketRadio Services) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution or EGPRS). (Gupta et. al, 2015).

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The technology behind the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation a variant of Phase Shift Keying (PSK) with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signaling over Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) carriers Citizens living in a place that has tropical weather always experience rainy seasons that are months long. While the rainy seasons bless the people with the absence of the hot summer weather and the abundance of water for crops, it is not always a gentle rain. Typhoons amplify these rains to have heavy rainfall and extreme winds.

In Olongapo City there are places where floods are inevitable, mostly because they are low places that cause them to be the catch basin for higher grounds, or because of clogged drainage.

Bottom line is flood cause inconvenience to the citizens, and in worst case scenario, it causes harm to them. While the citizens know when these floods will occur by experience, a warning system may benefit them greatly.

A type of warning system is already present in Olongapo City but not necessarily a dedicated one. It is the network of the concerned citizens and the use of internet. This consists of the citizens on the location and the use of mobile devices social media applications. This type of system is greatly beneficial to the city because of the continuous feedback of the citizens that can provide a timely manner of updating the current situation of their location and also, this type of warning system does not have an initial and maintaining cost that will burden the government since it is managed solely by citizens. While posting a picture of the actual scenario provides a greater understanding of the situation, this method of warning is not reliable due to power outage, loss of internet connection and availability of the citizens to actually take and post a picture. In times of calamity, citizens would normally focus their attention on their current location instead of other places.

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It is easy to access the internet during normal weather conditions and it is reliable during such conditions but when calamities occur intermittent connection problems take place thus making it not reliable during harsh conditions. Although there are other ways to connect to the internet like mobile data it would still require additional load for the mobile devices. A warning device that is connected to the internet would need additional care when it comes to connectivity.

Another form of communication is through the use GSM. While it has relatively low data rates it is still capable of transferring messages to the user without the user having to use additional effort like having a maintaining or connecting to a network since our mobile devices are always connected to the network. Even in calamities cell sites that are used to send messages are still active and are able to function adequately for the purpose of GSM based warnings.

The flood warning system that the authors proposed is a dedicated warning system that uses water level sensors that are the input to the processing unit which is the MCU and the output interface which is the GSM module. Using this setup the flood warning system would have a low data rate connection meaning that it is has fewer commands that it can process but would still be a reliable connection since cellular service is available throughout the city. Although the only warning that it could provide is a text message it would still prove to be an effective setup for warning systems.

While installing a flood warning system for the entire city is an ideal scenario, it would cost a lot of money and need an ample amount of knowledge about the subject. A more realistic approach would be installing these sensors in core locations so it greatly benefit the users.

The general objective of this study is to create a flood warning system that will use sensors to measure water level and send a

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corresponding message when the water triggers a sensor.

Specifically, the proposed research will aim: 1. To create a flood warning system that can be situated in the space that is needed to be monitored.

2. To use a GSM module as form of interface between the MCU and the mobile phone of the users.

3. To alert the users in each corresponding level of the water.

4. To be able to display the current water level using LCD display.

5. To be able to check the status of the system using GSM commands from mobile devices.

6. To test the acceptability of the proposed devices in terms of: 6.1 Functionality 6.2 Reliability 6.3 Maintainability 6.4 Effectiveness

Methods and Materials The researchers developed a Flood Warning System that can be useful to low level areas where flooding occurs. The general purpose of this study is to develop a flood warning system that includes the use of GSM Module for information dissemination. Its purpose was achieved through thorough researches and experiments.

The study started by researching related studies that can be used as guide and reference to meet the goals. After gathering enough information, especially regarding float switches, GSM Module, LCD display, ATmega328Pand coding using Arduino IDE, the researchers constructed the schematic diagram and flowchart needed for the system. The researchers, then, availed the needed 4

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components for the system. Each components where individually tested for its functionality.

Float switches were the first one to be availed and was first to conduct experiment to. The researchers created the code for the Float Switches. This component will give the input to the ATmega328. After creating the code for the float switches, the researchers tested and made the code for the LCD Display. The code includes how the current water level will be displayed to the LCD. Next component to be tested by the researchers is the GSM Shield. This component is vital to the system, since this will be used for the information dissemination. The researchers created the code for the GSM Shield; the code enables the GSM Shield to send SMS to the phone number coded by the researchers. Since the codes were first uploaded to the GizDuino V5, a tool for implementing a designed program, it was transferred to the ATmega328, the brain of the whole system, using USB to UART (Serial TTL) Converter.

After the completion of codes, the researchers created the prototype. It was made in such a way that it can be brought for presentation, however, the system can still be rearranged to adapt to any proposed location. Initial testing was first conducted by the researchers before securing the components to its places to ensure that no damage has occurred during the creation for the prototype. After the results of the tests are cleared, the researchers secured the components to their position. Final testing was conducted by the researchers to check whether errors have occurred and was missed.

The prototype of this thesis was donated to Barangay Sto. Tomas, Subic Zambales by Columban College since the area experiences severe flooding during rainy season every year that endanger the life of the residents. For this reason, the researchers, Mr. Russell Aaron S. Tolentino and Ms. Jackie-lou B. Balbarino, together with their thesis adviser Engr. Arlene Cerico-Grate, ECE, MEng-ECE and the dean of the College of Engineering, Engr. Greg 5

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C. Mallari, PECE, REE, MEng-EE, were invited by Hon. Gennyfer G. Chantengco to be his guests at the Barangay Assembly Day last March 19, 2016. The researchers were awarded Certificate of Recognition from Hon. Gennyfer G. Chantengco, Sto. Tomas barangay captain, and Hon. Jeffrey D. Khonghun, Representative of the 1st District of Zambales. The same award was also given to Columban College, College of Engineering, for being one of the barangay’s community partners in formulating and contributing in disaster preparedness as part of its community service. This was received by Engr. Greg C. Mallari, PECE, REE, MEng-EE and Engr. Arlene Cerico-Grate, ECE, MEng-ECE. The researchers personally had a meeting with the barangay captain to suggest that the system will be implemented in the area they think it will be needed. The researchers suggested that the system will be implemented after their presentation, to which the barangay captain agreed to.

Results and Discussion According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, climate change increases the probability of some types of weather. Recent heavy rains and flooding in the Northeast, Midwest and Great Plains are consistent with a warming planet and such events are expected to become more common over time. As a consequence of global warming, annual precipitation levels have increased in many parts of the country and decreased in others. Philippines is greatly visited by typhoons, because of this, low level areas experience extreme flooding to which many citizens suffer.

Although there are many types of warning systems for the occurrence of flood, not all areas have one, and not all systems can adapt to every place.

The researchers designed a five-level system that can be used as a warning system for low level areas in timed of flood. The general objective of this study was achieved which is to create a 6

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flood warning system that uses sensors to measure water level and send a corresponding message when the water triggers a sensor. The corresponding messages for each level are the following: (1) Flood Warning Alert Level 1. Water level is low.

Passable for citizens and all vehicle, (2) Flood Warning Alert Level 2. Moderate water level. Passable for citizens and all vehicle, (3) Flood Warning Alert Level 3. Water level is high. Road no longer passable for citizens and small vehicles, (4) Flood Warning Alert 4. Water level critical. Road no longer passable for citizens and small to medium-sized vehicles. Low-level areas: wait for rescue and (5) Flood Warning Level 5. Water level severe. Road no longer passable for citizens and all vehicles. Implement emergency plans. Low-level areas: wait for rescue.

The specific objectives was also met by the researchers which is to create a flood warning system that can be situated in the space that is needed to be monitored, to use a GSM module as form of interface between the MCU and the mobile phone of the users, to alert the users in each corresponding level of the water, to be able to display the current water level using LCD, to be able to check the status of the system using GSM commands from mobile devices and to be able to issue commands to the system using GSM commands from mobile devices.

After researches and experimentation, the researchers therefore conclude that they have made a device that can easily adapt to many situations where flood or water level monitoring is needed and is able to send a message with regards to the input triggered. It also has the capability to receive commands in the form of text messages and do a corresponding action with regards to the received message by using the MCU to compare the text messages to the preconfigured text command. Moreover, the researchers expressed their desire to help and extend community service of the academe by donating the system to the Barangay Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales.

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Although the system has reached its goals and objectives, the study still has its limitations. For further improvement of the study, the researchers offer the following recommendations to future researchers: To use solar panel as the power source for the system. The solar charging system will allow for the battery to be constantly charged. This will enable the system to last long in terms of power supply. To include a data center to which the data is collected by parameter data sensors and data loggers and sent to the data center via GPRS. To include other commands that can be issued by mobile users to the GSM Shield such as registering unlimited promo for the SIM Card. To use bigger LCD display. This will allow more words to display on LCD. To include loud sound warnings for the nearby residents to rely on.

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