1. March 2010
Real-time Flood Simulation
for Metro Manila and the Philippines
1H. J. Schick, 2A. Puri, 3A.M.F. Lagmay, 3C.P. David
1 IBM Germany R&D Lab
2 IBM India Software Lab
3 National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines
© 2010 IBM Corporation

2. Agenda
 Driven by increasing demand of flood level prediction in Metro Manila there is a growing
interest in an adequate early warning system.
 This presentation will provide an overview and insights into the flood prediction system and
the real-time flood simulation.
 We first present the flood level simulation of Metro Manila.
 We then describe the architecture of the proof-of-concept in some detail.
 In particular, we discuss the long-term goal by combining several on-the-shelf technologies
together, analyzing rainfall data from rain gauges and cloud moistures in satellite images to
finally use a simulation model to predict the flood level.
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3. Challenges
 Combine latest flood simulation tools with basic web mapping service applications and
several on-the-shelf technologies.
 Present the simulation result as hazard map to understand and predict the flood level in
Metro Manila.
 Do flood level simulation in real-time to alert people before and during an on-going tropical
storm.
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4. Real-time Flood Simulation
Input Processing Flood Simulation Output Processing
Elevation Data
Internet
Webpage
Rainfall Data
• Digital image processing and • NIGS developed a detailed terrain model and • Conversion of geospatial vector data
analysis of satellite photos. flood routing model of Metro Manila. into a XML-based language schema.
• Gathering and processing of rainfall • Flood Simulation in a flood routing model to • Expressing geographic annotations
data received by rain gauges illustrate flood hazards, regulating floodplain and visualization of two-dimensional
zoning or designing flood mitigation. maps.
• Create and configure “flood simulation” project,
execute simulation, post-process grid elements
and topographical data into a max flow depth
map.
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5. Real-time Flood Simulation
• Low zoom level to reroute emergency rescue teams around flooded areas and • High and more detailed zoom level to warn people in which areas the flood might
improve the planning of disaster preparedness, response and recovery teams. occur and visualize areas that needs to be evacuated.
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6. Input Processing with Satellite Images
 Step 1: Image Acquisition
Download satellite images from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)1 or Ensemble Tropical Rainfall Potential (eTRAP)2.
 Step 2: Preprocessing
Processes input data to produce output that is used as input to another program. Operations of preprocessing prepare data for subsequent
analysis that attempts to correct or compensate systematic image errors.
 Step 3: Segmentation
Partitioning a digital image into multiple segments to simplify and change the representation of an image into something that is more meaningful
and easier to analyze.
 Step 4: Representation & Description
Object has to be represented by its boundary and the object boundary has to be described by its length, orientation number of concavities, etc.
 Step 5: Recognition and Interpretation
Analyzing cloud moistures to estimate its movement and the amount of possible rainfall.
1 TRMM: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov
2 eTRaP: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/etrap.html
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7. Example Satellite Images
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8. Input Processing of Rainfall Data Received by Rain Gauges
 Step 1: Data Acquisition and Combining
Request rainfall data from rain gauges installed at cell sites. The request and result will be send via a single SMS messages and will be stored in
a database.
 Step 2: Data Combining
Combine former and current rainfall date of several cell sites to create a detailed overview of a certain region in the Philippines (e.g. Metro
Manila).
 Step 3: Recognition and Interpretation
Detect amount of rainfall for certain areas and its dedicated grid elements.
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9. Flood Simulation
 Tight cooperation with the FLO-2d company to improve the flood simulation model on a
repeatedly basis.
 Collaboration with the Computer Science department of the University of the Philippines to
guarantee the technical continuance of the project.
 Developed low-cost rain gauge prototypes and have them already in field test.
 Initial steps with SMART Communication were done to install additional rain gauges on their
cell sides.
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10. Output Processing
 Step 1: Conversion of Coordinate System
– Convert from grid base Universal Traverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system into Google Earth internal geographic coordinates (latitude /
longitude) on the World Geodetic System. The coordinates are stored in a geospatial vector data file, which is produced by the flood simulation
software .
 Step 2: Polygon Creation Based on Flood Depth
– Read and create polygons and categorize them according the flood depth in different ranges. Every range will have a specified color depending
on the specified color scheme.
 Step 3: Encoding of XML Schemas
– Save all converted coordinates and created polygons in a XML-based language schema. This language scheme will include place marks,
images, polygons and the corresponding color scheme for expressing the different flood level. The file can be visualized via existing Internet
based, two-dimensional mapping services, such as Google Earth or Google Maps.
 Step 4: Design a Webpage to Embed XML Schema
– Design a (dynamic) HTML and Javascript based webpage to embedded the encoded XML Schema. This webpage can be used to reroute
emergency rescue teams around flooded areas, improve the planning of disaster preparedness, response and recovery teams, as well as it
warns people in which areas the flood might occur.
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11. Proof of Concept and Status
 Input Processing:
– Prototyping source code available how to do image processing in Java.
 Flood Simulation:
– Prototyping source code available how to automate the two-dimensional flood routing model software
FLO-2d.
 Output Processing:
– ESRI Shapefile to Keyhole Markup Language (KML) conversation program finished. The program
can convert and generate maximum flood level and hazard maps.
– Maps were embedded in a static webpage to enable easy access and visualization.
 Training and Capacity Building:
– Visual Basic for Applications Course to create macros for automating repetitive tasks in in Excel and
develop simple customer specific programs.
– Hand-over of prototype implementations and all corresponding examples.
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12. Long-term Story
 Use eTRAP and TRMM as rainfall input. Here, clarification is needed if a higher resolution or
a smaller grid size is available.
 Automate two-dimensional flood routing model software FLO-2d with NEXTRAD ASCII Data
scheme as input source
 Improve integration of KML files in Google Maps to visualize more geographical elements
(e.g. place marks, annotations, polygons, etc.)
 Improve overlay function to visualize maximum flood level map, hazard map and interactive
map in one map and not in individual maps.
 Integrate and develop the functionality to repeatedly collect rainfall data from satellite images
and rain gauges as simulation input.
 Save all collected rainfall data in a database to reflect the past rainfall condition in Metro
Manila and the Philippines.
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13. Software Requirements
Input Processing Output Processing
and
Flood Simulation
Data Encoding • Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) • ESRI Shapefile or simply a “shapefile” is a popular
• Ensemble Tropical Rainfall Potential (eTRAP) geospatial vector data format for geographic
• NEXRAD Rainfall Data ASCII Format information systems software.
• Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is a XML-based
language schema for expressing geographic annotation
and visualization on existing or future Internet-based,
two-dimensional maps.
Programming and Scripting • Java Development Kit (JDK) • HyperText Markup Language (HTML), is the
Languages • Microsoft Windows Scripting Host (WSH) predominant markup language for web pages.
• JavaScript is an object-oriented scripting language.
• Java Development Kit (JDK)
• PHP Hypertext Processor is a widely used, general-
purpose scripting language that was originally designed
for web development to produce dynamic web pages.
Client and Server Applications • FLO-2D is a two-dimensional flood routing model • Apache HTTP Server is an open-source HTTP server
software to do flood hazard mitigation and planning. for modern operating systems.
• MySQL is a relational database management system.
Operating Systems • Microsoft Windows XP, 7 or Windows Server 2008 • Linux
R2 Standard.
Application Programming • Not Applicable • Google Maps is as a basic web mapping service
Interface application.
• GeoTools is a open source Java geographic
information system toolkit.
• JTS Topology Suite is providing spatial object model
and fundamental geometric functions.
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14. Hardware Requirements
Input Processing Output Processing
and
Flood Simulation
Basic System Configuration x3650 M2 x3650 M2
• Xeon 4C E5506 80W 2.13GHz/800MHz/4MB L3 • Xeon 4C E5506 80W 2.13GHz/800MHz/4MB L3
• 2x2GB • 2x2GB
• O/Bay 2.5in HS SAS • O/Bay 2.5in HS SAS
• SR BR10i • SR BR10i
• Multi-Burner • Multi-Burner
• 675W p/s • 675W p/s
Additional Processor + Intel Xeon 4C Processor Model E5506 80W
2.13GHz/800MHz/4MB L3
Additional Memory + 2GB (1x2GB) Dual Rank x8 PC3-10600 CL9 ECC + 2GB (1x2GB) Dual Rank x8 PC3-10600 CL9 ECC
DDR3-1333 LP RDIMM DDR3-1333 LP RDIMM
Storage + ServeRAID-MR10i SAS/SATA Controller + ServeRAID-MR10i SAS/SATA Controller
+ IBM 146GB 2.5in SFF Slim-HS 10K 6Gbps SAS + IBM 160GB 2.5in SFF Slim-HS 7.2K NL SATA HDD
HDD
Additional Power Supply + Redundant 675W Power supply + Redundant 675W Power supply
Operating System + Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard (1-4 CPU, 5
CAL) ROK - ML (BR,EN,FR,SP)
Note: The system configuration above is an initial example needed by the long-term flood simulation implementation.
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15. Thank you very much for your attention.
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