Design and Implementation of a Road Flood Detection and Alert System for Urban Areas in Uganda

Abstract

In Uganda today, the land use has tremendously changed, especially in the urban areas, which has in turn led to significant changes in the climatic conditions. This has led to an increased frequency of storms and rainfall, leading to an increase in water runoff. As most of the surfaces are mostly impermeable and given the increased occupation of the swamps, most of this water finds its way onto the roads, leading to flooding, which puts the lives of the different road users, especially the motorists, at risk as well as increasing traffic congestion. A flood detection and alert system on roads is a system designed to monitor the state of the roads, especially at well-known flood points and then send out alerts to the different road users based on the data read. The system then notifies the motorists of which alternative route to use in case the particular route is flooded. The system will therefore reduce the fatalities on roads as a result of floods as well as save motorists time as they will be able to know beforehand what lies ahead of them and then act accordingly.