Innovative Flood Solutions
Created By RISC | 2 years ago
Last modified date : 1 year ago
Flooding has affected many people in the Chao Phraya river basin and many provinces in Thailand's northeast. Flooding is now common in our homes. Can we apply innovation to lessen the impact?
Let's look at some new approaches for flood mitigation and future development directions.
Emergency food must contain protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals for complete nutrition. It should be easy to move, keep, and eat for use in emergencies such as floods or getting lost.
Clean water is also crucial for survival. Ways to produce clean drinking water are vital. The many current technologies include a portable filter and a mobile clean water machine that can be taken to disaster-stricken areas by bicycle, car, or boat. The device was developed by professors and researchers at the Department of Environmental Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering of Kasetsart University. A foreign innovation is the "Life Straw", a small tube that can be carried around and used to drink through.
Toilets are also needed to prevent breeding grounds for pathogens. Portable toilets have been developed to be easily moved and able to contain waste before eliminating it.
A polyethylene "Life Box" that can be inflated in 1 minute provides a small house for 4 people, able to hold food, water, and emergency supplies. Life boxes have been developed for air, land, and water. The air type is suitable for areas that can only be accessed by air, the land type for road access, and the water type for flooding.
Sandbags create a water barrier. But innovative flood barriers are simple to install, easy to store, lightweight, and reusable. They can help keep water out of areas where the level isn't too high. Some can block large areas or only a door gap.
Such innovations could be used in many areas of Thailand to reduce hardship. They could also be developed into new innovations for future challenges.
Story by Thanawat Jinjaruk, Senior Researcher, Environment Division, RISC
References:
https://www.design1st.com/5-innovative-flood-prevention-products-replace-sandbags/
https://aquobex.com/products-list/floodguard-screw-in-barrier/
https://www.design1st.com/5-innovative-flood-prevention-products-replace-sandbags/
https://www.tuvie.com/d-r-toilet-system-disaster-relief-flat-pack-toilet-system-by-rahim-bhimani/
https://inhabitat.com/life-box-an-air-droppable-pop-up-recovery-shelter-for-victims-of-natural-disasters/water-life-box/
https://www.eng.ku.ac.th/news/?p=1257
https://www3.rdi.ku.ac.th/?p=32600 https://lifestraw.com/