14 hours ago
Kottayam's high-ranges to get automated landslide warning system
In view of of increasing incidence of landslides and localised floods caused by extreme rainfall, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram and Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC), Thiruvananthapuram have joined hands to establish an automated warning system for landslides in the eastern high-ranges of Kottayam.
Three automatic weather stations (AWS) have been established with the support of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Theekoy, Poonjar Thekkekara and Moonnilavu panchayats in the Meenachil river basin. This will be followed by the installation of low-cost landslide prediction equipment in the next phase.
The primary objective of the pilot project is to develop and test the operational feasibility of a reliable observation and early warning system with community participation. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Meenachil River Protection Committee, a people's collective in the region and the local bodies.
The selected study area lies in the Western Ghats of Kerala, a region that is highly prone to landslides during the monsoon. The project proposes to develop an integrated landslide early warning system using electrical, electronic, fiber-optic, and weather sensors, as well as mathematical models.
'The broader goal is to validate this proof-of-concept and, based on its success, expand the system to other vulnerable regions across the Western Ghats in Kerala that face similar monsoon-induced hazards,' said a statement.
The system offers a significant advantage by enabling precise data analysis from a remote centre at CUSAT. Key environmental parameters, including wind speed, humidity, temperature, rainfall, soil moisture and soil temperature, are continuously monitored through the automated weather station and land prediction centre. This data is then transmitted to the servers at CUSAT for comprehensive analysis.
