Friends in Need (of “PA”) Volunteers Foundation, Thai Red Cross Signs MoU for “Phase 2 Automatic Telemetry Station Installation in Watershed Areas Project”
20/09/2024
On September 3, 2024, His Majesty the King graciously granted royal permission for Prof. Emeritus Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board, to act on behalf of the Chairman of the Friends in Need (of “PA”) Volunteers Foundation, Thai Red Cross, in signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the “Phase 2 Automatic Telemetry Station Installation Project for Meteorological Data, Rainfall, and Water Level Monitoring in Watershed Areas” at the Sri Julasap 1 Room, 10th Floor, Sri Julasap Building, Pathumwan, Bangkok.
The agreement was signed with 10 network partners to continue the initiative inspired by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrasudha Kajanurak, Chairperson of the Foundation, and to honor the legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great in utilizing automatic telemetry technology for water management and disaster prevention in the country.
In collaboration with the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Royal Forest Department, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Local Administration Promotion, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), and the Hydroinformatics Institute (HII), the Foundation launched Phase 1 of the “Automatic Telemetry Station Installation Project” on February 24, 2020. The project aims to install 510 telemetry stations in watershed areas across all regions of the country to monitor meteorological data, rainfall, and water levels.
The project involves integrating cooperation from state agencies, local governments, private sectors, and civil society in terms of legal aspects, budgeting, management, utilization, and community collaboration to monitor and prevent disasters, manage community water resources, and sustainably prevent loss of life and property from natural disasters.
So far, 242 telemetry stations have been installed in watershed areas. The data collected is transmitted through the telecommunication network to the National Hydroinformatics Data Center at Thaiwater.net and the Thai Water mobile application for public dissemination. Additionally, heavy rainfall alerts are sent via the LINE application to relevant state agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders to monitor and prevent disasters at the community level. The Foundation, in cooperation with HII, has established 19 community disaster warning networks across all regions of the country, training volunteers in high-risk flood areas on the use of water resource information for monitoring, warning, and evacuating to safe areas. The program has been successful, showing tangible and effective results.
To complete the remaining telemetry station installations in watershed areas as stipulated in the MoU, the Foundation convened a meeting with the seven original network partners: NBTC, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Royal Forest Department, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Local Administration Promotion, PEA, and HII, as well as three new relevant agencies: the National Water Resources Office, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and the Royal Thai Army, to finalize the MoU for Phase 2 of the project. All partners agreed on the importance of completing the installation of 510 telemetry stations to transmit data through the telecommunication system for national water monitoring and disaster management. The agreement was signed today.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by representatives from 10 network agencies, including Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, Acting Secretary-General of the NBTC; Mr. Surasri Kidtimonton, Secretary-General of the National Water Resources Office; General Phana Klaewplodthuk, Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, representing the Army Commander; Mr. Atthaphon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Mr. Surachai Achalaboon, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department; Mr. Atsit Sampanrat, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration; Mr. Chaiwat Chuntirapong, Director-General of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM); Mr. Siriphan Srikongphlee, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Local Administration Promotion, representing the Director-General; Mr. Chardchai Pumarin, Deputy Governor of Central and Southern Regions, representing the Governor of PEA; and Ms. Royboon Rassamethes, Director of the Hydroinformatics Institute.
The Friends in Need (of “PA”) Volunteers Foundation, Thai Red Cross recognizes that floods are natural disasters that cause significant loss of life and property. Therefore, sustainable flood assistance involves monitoring and prevention, which is a key mission of the Foundation to ensure that people in disaster-prone areas are prepared and can respond promptly to any upcoming situations. The Foundation is a charitable organization specializing in comprehensive and sustainable flood relief, focusing on linking, supporting, and cooperating with the government, private sector, and communities to set a global example in disaster relief and sustainable development.
