The University of San Carlos (USC) and four other tertiary schools from all over the country have made it to the final round of the 5th SWEEP (Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program) Innovation and Excellence Awards.
The USC, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, Bulacan State University and Systems Plus College came up with the top 10 mobile solutions designed to help communities build their capacity to prepare for the onslaught of natural disasters in order to mitigate losses.
They bested 76 other entries from SWEEP partner schools nationwide based on the theme “Strengthening Community-Based Emergency Management System.”
Working models of their innovative wireless applications will be on display and open for public demonstration during the culminating event of SWEEP Awards from March 12 to 14 at the Mega Trade Hall of SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
These include a system that makes use of social networking, Smart SMS and Smart Money transfer to gather relief goods.
Another one is an emergency management system that integrates GPS and GIS technology to easily locate, search and rescue victims.
Also securing a finals appearance is an automatic multipoint and simultaneous fire detection and dissemination system that works through wireless data transmission and the Internet.
Another one is a typhoon forecasting system with a sensor suite patterned after the radiosconde technology.
Other contenders for the top three spots include a contacts disseminator that functions as an emergency contact directory to aid cell phone users in getting in touch with the proper organizations and/or persons in need; a system combining a device and a phone application designed to detect fire and housebreaking or burglary; and a server that converts text messages to voice messages to help the elderly, blind and partially sighted individuals.
Completing the roll of finalists are a weather forecast system designed to monitor the wave levels of certain areas and at the same time functions as a tsunami indicator; a system designed to detect electrical current loss that provides assistance to residences by automatically sending an advisory to authorities and power companies in the event of a blackout; and a flood information system that makes use of the Smart Person Finder to accurately provide subscribers situations on nearby public roads through SMS, MMS and the Internet.The winning teams will be awarded cash prizes while their schools will receive an equivalent amount in the form of a grant. First prize is P500,000; second prize, P300,000; and third prize, P150,000.
The annual SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Award is organized SWEEP, an industry-academe partnership program that helps raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country. |
