The Institute of Geophysics has built a modern monitoring system to collect input data for the forecasting system of heavy rain and urban floods for Hanoi.

Network diagram of the monitoring stations located in Hanoi.
Photo: Thuy Chi

Hanoi has established a short-term and high resolution early warning and monitoring system of thunderstorms, heavy rain and floods in the city, according to local media.

The system is a component within the project "Fostering Innovation through Research, Science and Technology" (FIRST), which is funded by the World Bank and managed by the Institute of Geophysics under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

This is the first innovation, science and technology project funded by the World Bank in Vietnam.

 The modern monitoring system includes two X-band radars, eight stations for measuring electric field, two automatic meteorological stations, ten automatic stations for rainfall measurement, one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), one station for measuring cloud ceiling, eight satellite receivers and three lightning warning stations.

 After implementing, the Institute of Geophysics has built a modern monitoring system to collect input data for the forecasting system of heavy rain and urban floods for Hanoi.

 Currently, the monitoring stations are located in the districts of Thach That, Dong Anh, Chuong My, Cau Giay, Gia Lam, Phu Xuyen, Ung Hoa and Tay Ho.

 Besides, the institute has established an advanced system for warning heavy rain and urban floods, and delivering the data to end users with a view to help them in active prevention of natural disaster including thunderstorms, heavy rains and floods in Hanoi.

 Staff of the institute have been sent to Taiwan for training in operating the project. Also Australian experts have been invited to enhance their capacity in atmospheric physics research and short-term warnings of thunderstorms, heavy rain and urban floods for Hanoi in particular and Vietnam’s big cities in the time ahead.