Early Warning system for floods
The Challenge
Every year, Nepal faces a six-month Monsoon season, bringing intense rainfall and frequent river flooding. These floods pose a serious threat to communities living near rivers, often resulting in severe loss of life and property. Although earlier efforts by local authorities have attempted to mitigate this risk, a critical gap remains: the lack of a reliable, timely flood warning system for vulnerable populations.
The Robotics Association of Nepal (RAN) had already developed a basic system to measure water levels and predict floods, but lacked the technical capacity to transmit this data effectively to at-risk communities. Additionally, due to Nepalese frequency regulations, any long-range communication system must operate within the 2.4 GHz band—making existing solutions, such as those used in Europe, unsuitable.
The Solution
To support RAN’s initiative, the Diyalo Foundation brought together technical expertise from KPN and four computer science students from Avans University of Applied Sciences. The goal: develop a working prototype for a long-range flood warning system using LoRa technology within the required 2.4 GHz frequency.
Powered entirely by solar energy and built to withstand Nepal’s extreme weather, this network helps deliver real-time water level alerts from rivers directly to vulnerable communities.
How it Works
- A water level sensor is placed at a critical river location to detect potential flooding.
- Data is transmitted over a LoRa 2.4 GHz network to a nearby village.
- The network is designed to operate over distances up to 25 km.
- All hardware runs on solar energy, with a strict energy limit of 20 watts.
- Equipment is built to resist rain, lightning, and other environmental challenges.
The Outcome
The team developed a proof-of-concept system capable of transferring flood sensor data across multiple network nodes. Extensive testing was conducted to ensure reliable communication range and energy efficiency. The system design includes optimized data transmission in 16-bit format to reduce energy use. Although not yet internet-connected, the gateway logs incoming data and is ready for further development.
What’s Next?
To move from prototype to implementation, several steps are advised:
- Integrate an appropriate water level sensor in the final deployment.
- Establish internet connectivity for broader alert dissemination.
- Finalize research on casing, solar panels, and energy storage.
- Implement lightweight encryption, such as AES128, to secure communications.
While this proof-of-concept demonstrates the system’s technical feasibility, further development is required before full deployment. The students will remain available for consultation but will not continue with direct implementation.
Why It Matters
Every minute counts in a flood. With this technology, entire communities can evacuate before the waters rise, giving families precious time to seek safety and protect their belongings.
This is more than just a tech project—it’s about saving lives, empowering local innovators, and proving that simple, sustainable solutions can make a big difference.