Known for being the subjects of constant flooding whenever there is a typhoon, towns in Camarines Sur could finally see a resolution to their problem as the government taps into the power of artificial intelligence (AI).
Among 18 of the 34 communities that are often left submerged in flood water is the town of Nabua, which is among those heavily affected by the recent storm. Due to its geographic disposition, the area eight to 10 hours away from Manila serves as the catch basin of water from nearby areas.
See also: How to help improve weather forecasting using your smartphone
Using weather data collected via AI, the information will be used to predict the potential formation of flood waters, which will give way for officials and the residents to prepare for evacuation.
Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC) faculty member Josep Jessie S. Oñate said that it would take at least a year’s worth of gathered data to feed into the AI for it to sufficiently provide accurate predictions.
Oñate told the statement during an interview in late July, mere minutes before the AI Research Center for Community Development (AIRCoDE) launched, the program which he also heads.
With financial support coming from The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology, Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the AI lab cost Php5.9 million, which came as part of the organization’s drive for innovation in the region.
The laboratory in the province of Camarines Sur is but one of 49 others that were put into place across the country to keep track of and digest weather data.