UAV technology helps control flood

KOTA BARU: The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has helped in flood mitigation efforts, says Association of Authorised Land Surveyors Malaysian (Pejuta) president Datuk Dr Mohd Zaid Abdullah.
The initial mapping efforts carried out by the UAVs on the surface of the earth had helped in forecasts of water retention areas and in upstream river watershed areas, he said.
At the same time, Mohd Zaid said, Pejuta members had also used the maritime sounding technique to measure the water level in rivers before and after flooding.
"At the end of last year, we had completed mapping of Sungai Aring and Sungai Lebir in Gua Musang, using this technique, and the data has been sent to the Drainage and Irrigation Department for further action.
"From this data, the department can plan either to deepen the river or build embankments for flood mitigation programme," he told reporters after attending a demonstration and exhibition of the UAV held in conjunction with the 2017 Pejuta Workshop at Padang Perdana here today.
Mohd Zaid said the benefits of using the UAV included lower cost, more accurate surveying results and a shorter time period required for surveying compared to previous methods of using aeroplanes or helicopters. — Bernama