DID Sarawak plans to install Intelligent Gauge in Sibu and other towns

SIBU: The state Department of Irrigation and Drainage ( DID) will install the Intelligent Gauge ( IG) – a flood detection and warning system – not only here, but in other towns as well.

However, DID Sarawak director Chok Moi Soon said this would be subject to further enhancements and availability of funds.

“At present, we are testing on three areas in Kuching. “We are still trying to improve the system and also source for additional funds to install it in Sibu,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday when asked about any plan to install the system in flood- prone areas across this town.

The IG, which provides water level information to monitor the flood situation, is under testing at three flood- prone areas in Kuching – Jalan Badruddin, Federal Quarters at Durian Burung Road and SK Jalan Muara Tuang.

The instruments, which cost RM20,000 per unit, are maintained by DID Sarawak.

DID Sarawak hydrology and water resources branch assistant director Normahyusni Mohd Annuar explained that the waterlevel data obtained from the IG would be sent as text messages ( SMS) to the DID officers’ mobile phones, from time to time.

She said the system would be triggered whenever the water reached a certain level.

Thereafter, early flood warnings could be sent to residents of the areas concerned via sirens and strobe light.

The first warning is when the water level reaches 0.15m, second warning at 0.2m, while the danger level is 0.3m, or one foot.

With the data, Normahyusni said DID officers would be able to monitor the real-time situation remotely as information on the water level would be sent from time to time.

She said in the past, there were manual gauges installed where officers had to go down to the field to collect the water level data.

The four- star innovative project by DID Kenyalang Team won the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Innovation Award 2017 under the State Agency category.

It was the result of the team’s exploration of a number of measures that could be taken to mitigate the potential impact of flooding.