Ondoy flood map puzzle
Posted on | October 12, 2010 |
Here’s one game/puzzle that is fun and informative.
Cool people from University of the Philippines Diliman National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) in tandem with IBM volunteers did this online map puzzle. They used Google’s free map app + another free open source app called Jigsaw Puzzle + FEMA approved Flo2D software + information from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Flood Susceptibility Map + surveys of flood level as given by affected Filipinos.
To me, the interactivity of the puzzle is just for the viral purpose, to put in fun, to spread the disaster history.
The more important thing about this project is the data available to the public is pretty darn useful. People can actually look at these maps and base real estate values (it works both ways though, some of the property owners located on the red areas may not be appreciative of these maps). Urban planners can use these maps too. With regards to the safety, people will have an idea what happened in the past and know where to be in case an Ondoy-ish storm is coming. LGU’s too, they can view this map and study how they can save lives and prepare routes and evacuation efforts.
We all can learn something from this online tool.
As of this posting, mapped and puzzled areas are UP campus, Quezon City, Santa Maria, Marikina City, Meycauayan, Valenzuela City. The estimated/researched depth of the flood are indicated (color coded) on the map. The puzzle here.
Across the Philippines, they have more flood hazards map. Again, the “inundation maps were simulated using rainfall delivered by tropical storm Ondoy on 26 September 2009 over 3 arc second topography from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Please click here for other areas (without the puzzle).