LOW-COST SMART FLOODING WARNING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION
The most catastrophic natural disaster that occurs often in the Philippines is flooding.
Floods are the most common sort of natural disaster, occurring when an excess of water
submerges previously dry terrain. It is frequently caused by excessive rainfall or a storm
surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal locations. Moreover, floods may inflict
extensive destruction, including fatalities and damage to personal property and important
public health infrastructure which can most likely affect those who live in floodplains or in
non-resistant buildings, as well as those who lack warning systems and awareness of the
flooding risk [1].
Due to the geographic location of the country, which is near the Pacific Ocean, it has
become prone to storms that often cause floods in the affected areas. According to the
International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), data from 2008 to 2023 indicates that
floods account for 14% of the 62.2 million total catastrophe displacements, with 634 total
disasters reported [2]. In 2023 alone, the country saw about 2.6 million disaster-related
displacements, 45 percent lower than the decadal average [2].
The Visayas region is prone to floods specifically its Eastern part. Eastern Visayas are
susceptible to heavy rainfall due to typhoons originating from the Pacific Ocean. These
typhoons usually take the path on the area. It is also often where typhoons make landfalls.
These landfalls trigger the flood because of the amount of precipitation it brings. Several
provinces in Visayas are extensively issued flood warnings during storm seasons.
Last February 9, 2025, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) has issued a red alert for the provinces of Eastern Samar, Samar,
Biliran, Northern Samar, and Leyte due to heavy rains that might cause flooding and
landslides [3]. This leads to the cancellation of classes at all levels of both private and public
schools.
In Visayas State University, the Office of the President released the Memorandum
Circular No. 43 s. 2025. This memorandum specifies that all face-to-face classes and work in
the university are suspended due to the persistent Orange Rainfall Warning issued by the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
At 11:00 A.M, another weather advisory was released by the university. The dormitory
occupants whose dorms are at risk of flood and landslide are evacuated and are encouraged to
remain in the evacuation areas until further notice.
This project aims to produce a Low-Cost Smart Flood Warning System. It is a
warning system that measures the water level in the area. If the water reaches the sensor, it
will give a warning such as the blinking LED, buzzer sound, and an SMS to the user that the
water level is rising.
OBJECTIVES
1. To identify rising water levels by designing and implementing a flood monitoring
system with an Arduino Uno coupled with rain, ultrasonic, and water level sensors;
2. To incorporate early warning elements like buzzers, LED indications, and a GSM
module in order to deliver real-time notifications to the appropriate authorities and the
community;
3. To create a user-friendly interface that enables remote monitoring of flood conditions;
4. To create a wireless communication module that uses Internet of Things technology to
notify households and emergency personnel via SMS when flood thresholds are
crossed; and
5. To test and assess the system's responsiveness, accuracy, and dependability in
determining flood levels and sending out alerts on time.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of the Low-Cost Smart Flood Warning System is that it provides affordable
flood warning systems to communities prone to flood specific areas within and around
Visayas State University. It is designed to cater small or medium-sized communities who
have limited access to expensive flood warning systems. It detects the measurement of the
water level and sends reports about its real-time condition. At the sensor’s level, this device is
programmed to send warning through blinking of an LED, a buzzer sound, and an SMS to the
user giving a warning of flood. The creation of the device applies to the concept of circuit
creation using the Arduino UNO R3, LED, buzzer, and water sensor.
While this project offers a low-cost smart flooding warning system, it is limited to
detection of rising water levels to warn individuals of the dangers of flood through the LED,
buzzer, and mobile alerts. It does not store or analyze historical data which could help in
analyzing its trend that is useful for future flood analysis and prediction. Additionally, it is
dependent on power supply. In case of long power outages, the system may stop working.
Finally, it is designed for small-scale flood detection like homes and small communities as it
is low in cost and can be done by oneself, therefore it is not suitable for large-scale flood.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Among the most prevalent and devastating natural disasters globally, flooding kills
millions of people and causes billions of dollars in losses annually. In contrast to the decade-
long average of 86 flood catastrophe events during the 1990s, there were 170 reported flood
disaster events in 2023 alone [4]. Since 1990 and up to 2022, these disasters have affected
more than 3.2 billion individuals, with approximately US$1.3 trillion in economic losses and
approximately 218,353 deaths [5].
 Climate change is directly related to a rise in the number and severity of floods. The
water cycle of the Earth has intensified as global temperatures have risen, and this has led to
more frequent instances of extreme weather conditions such as flooding and heavy rainfall.
Such climatic interference displaced 40 million individuals, killed at least 8,700 individuals,
and caused over $550 billion in economic loss in 2024 [6].
In the Philippines, a nation most prone to natural disasters, flooding is a severe issue.
74% of the country's population and 60% of the country's land area are exposed to natural
hazards such as landslides, floods, and cyclones [7]. Six flood-related disasters took place in
the Philippines in 2023, higher compared to previous years [8].
The challenges induced by these natural disasters are best depicted by Baybay City in
Leyte province. At least 21 individuals were reported dead in catastrophic landslides
triggered by Tropical Depression Agaton in April 2022 in several barangays, such as
Kantagnos, Bunga, and Mailhi [9]. The geologically unstable terrain and high precipitation of
the area were the primary factors behind these events [10].
Visayas State University (VSU), located in Baybay City, took the initiative to solve
these problems. VSU produced flood hazard maps indicating the anticipated flood depth and
the risk level in areas near river basins using initiatives such as the Phil-LiDAR program [11].
Local communities can gain a lot from such materials that assist in implementing effective
flood protection measures. The increasing number and severity of flooding disasters, despite
these initiatives, underscores the necessity for cheaper and localized early warning systems.
In disaster-prone communities, such as those surrounding VSU, low-cost technology, such as
Arduino-based flood monitoring systems, can enhance readiness.
Most regions are in grave danger of floods, so efficient early warning systems must be
created to minimize its impact. Flood early warning systems (EWS) typically involve several
components, including sensors to detect increasing water levels, alarm devices such as LED
lights and alarms, and communication modules for dissemination [12]. In order to allow
timely evacuations and pre-emptive actions, these systems base their functionality on
continuous monitoring of the environment for real-time alerting [13]. An Arduino Uno, an
open-source microcontroller platform that allows one to integrate multiple sensors, is an
affordable approach to flood sensing. Rain, water level, and ultrasonic sensor may be used on
an Arduino Uno to monitor floods accurately [14]. The system assists communities in
reacting proactively by activating sirens and issuing warnings when water levels exceed
predetermined levels [15].
Integration of IoT and wireless communication has increased in demand as a solution
for enhancing the efficiency of flood monitoring. Arduino-based systems have access to GSM
modules like SIM900A that enable them to send alerts to identified contacts through SMS,
ensuring key information gets to the correct stakeholders [16]. Moreover, IoT-based systems
enable data to be transmitted to cloud services in real time, enabling monitoring through
mobile phones and web applications. To improve the accuracy of prediction and generate
more reliable notifications, researchers have also explored the use of machine learning
algorithms in combination with Internet of Things-based flood monitoring systems [13].
Moreover, to enhance the capabilities of real-time assessment and facilitate authorities and
citizens to respond more effectively, image processing methods are being integrated into
flood detection systems [17]. Early warning systems for floods may be made more accessible,
scalable, and effective in reducing disaster risk by utilizing Arduino Uno and Internet of
Things-connectivity, particularly for flood-risk prone locations such as Baybay City, Leyte.

METHODOLOGY
The Low-Cost Smart Flood Warning System is made to detect rising water levels and
provides early warnings using lights, sound, and mobile alerts. Built with an Arduino-based
setup, it’s an affordable and efficient way to reduce flood risks. Beyond safety, it also serves
as a learning tool (SDG 4), promotes innovation in early warning systems (SDG 9), and
contributes to building more resilient communities (SDG 11).
This section presents the materials, code, and procedure used in achieving the
objectives of this project.
Materials
The computer specifications used by the researchers were Windows 11 Home, 64-bit
operating system, 8.00 GB RAM, 500 GB of hard disk space, and Intel core i7 10 th generation
processor.
The materials used in this project to develop the prototype of the low-cost smart
flooding warning system are as follows: Arduino Uno R3, water level detection sensor
module, passive buzzer, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) indicator, jumper wires, breadboard,
Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
module. For programming, the researchers used Arduino Integrated Development
Environment (IDE) using C++ as a programming language. Finally, for sending mobile alerts,
the researchers used a working and registered SIM card.
Code
Written below is the code used to make the Arduino-based setup work.
/*
*Low-Cost Smart Flooding Warning System
*This code will be able to light an LED, sound a buzzer, and send mobile alerts when the
critical water level is reached.
*/
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#define SENSOR_PIN A0
#define BUZZER_PIN 8
#define LED_PIN 9
#define TX_PIN 7 // GSM TX to Arduino Pin 7
#define RX_PIN 6 // GSM RX to Arduino Pin 6

SoftwareSerial gsm(TX_PIN, RX_PIN); // Software Serial for GSM module

void setup() {
pinMode(SENSOR_PIN, INPUT);
pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600); // Serial monitor

gsm.begin(9600); // GSM module communication

Serial.println("Initializing GSM module...");

delay(1000);
gsm.println("AT"); // Test GSM module
delay(1000);
gsm.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS mode to text
delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
int waterLevel = analogRead(SENSOR_PIN);
Serial.print("Water Level: ");
Serial.println(waterLevel);

if (waterLevel > 500) { // Note: Threshold Value can be changed depending on the
situation.
 digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, HIGH);
digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
sendAlert(); // Send SMS alert
} else {
digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);
digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
}
delay(1000);
}

void sendAlert() {
Serial.println("Sending SMS Alert...");
gsm.println("AT+CMGS=\"+1234567890\""); // Replace with your phone number
delay(1000);
gsm.println("Flood Alert! Water level is rising dangerously.");
delay(1000);
gsm.write(26); // End SMS with CTRL+Z
delay(5000);
}
Procedure
The researchers divided the project into four (4) parts: Gathering of Materials,
Assembling the Circuit, Sketching of Code, and Project Testing.
Low-Cost Smart Flooding
Warning System

Gathering of Assembling the Sketching of Project

Materials Circuit Code Testing
Connect the Arduino software
Power on
Water Level
Sensor Copy and paste code Increase water level
Connect the
Mobile number and
Buzzer Observe system’s
Connect the LED threshold
response
Verify and upload
Connect the GSM Monitor Serial Output
module Figure 1. Procedure Parts
Part 1. Gathering of Materials
 Make sure to have the materials mentioned above to start the project.
Part 2. Assembling the Circuit
a. Connect the Water Level Sensor:
 VCC to 5V on Arduino
 GND to GND
 Signal (S) to A0
b. Connect the Buzzer:
 Positive to Pin 8
 Negative to GND
c. Connect the LED:
 Long leg to Pin 9 (via a 220Ω resistor)
 Short leg to GND
d. Connect the GSM Module (for mobile alerts):
 VCC to 5V (use a separate 5V power source for better stability)
 GND to GND
 TX to Pin 7
 RX to Pin 6
Part 3. Sketching of Code
a. Open the Arduino software on the computer.
b. Copy and paste the given code above.
c. Replace the mobile number in the code and customize the threshold value accordingly.
d. Verify the code to check and upload.
Part 4. Project Testing
1. Power on the Arduino and check if the LED and buzzer remain OFF when the water level
is low.
2. Gradually increase the water level by dipping the sensor in water.
3. Observe the system’s response:
 If the water level exceeds 500, the buzzer and LED should turn on.
 The GSM module should send a mobile alert.
4. Monitor the Serial Output (Tools > Serial Monitor in Arduino IDE) to check the sensor
readings and mobile alert sending process.

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