The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has recently granted the Ateneo de Naga University, through the Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR), funding for 3 years for participating in two directed research programs titled PHIL-LIDAR-1 (Nationwide Hazard Mapping using LIDAR Data) and PHIL-LIDAR 2 (Detailed Resource Assessment using LIDAR Data) of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).

The purpose of the Programs is to help in the early detection of flooding in Barangays in Municipalities that will be affected in terms of habitation and resources loss as a result of Climate Change.  In this threatening scenario, affected human communities can plan earlier to mitigate the impacts of such loss through the assistance of various government agencies, LGUs, and NGOs.

LIDAR technology enable data points to be  obtained and processed by various computer software to show details of rivers, forest, agricultural crops, and other ecosystems including mapping of flooding hazards along rivers. Engineers and INECAR Researchers  will validate on the ground of the data points. Thus, there are faculty members from two Colleges (College of Engineering and College of Computer Studies) who will participate and partner with INECAR in carrying out the Projects in the Provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.

An added province is Albay but will only focus on LIDAR 2 since LIDAR 1, through the DREAM project, has already been done years earlier.  The study is a welcome breakthrough in expanding the research capabilities of interested researchers especially faculty of Ateneo de Naga University as the projects can benefit local communities.

DR. EMELINA G. REGIS

Director, INECAR

Project Leader of the PHIL-LIDAR-1 and LIDAR-2

March 4, 2014