Thailand Launches Unified Water Alert System for Disaster Response
Thailand has launched a unified water alert system combining data from four agencies to provide consistent flood warnings and improve disaster response. The centralized dashboard aims to eliminate conflicting information that previously del
Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Wangsuwadi and the Digital Economy and Society Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on September 15, 2025, at Government House to establish a unified water mapping system and early warning dashboard. The agreement involves four agencies: the Thai Meteorology Department, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the Water Resources Information Institute, and the Big Data Institute.
The initiative arose from gaps identified during flood management operations in Nan Province, where inconsistent data and poor coordination among agencies delayed critical decisions. Wangsuwadi emphasized that the system's goal is not to accumulate the most data or use the most advanced technology, but to enable rapid risk identification, comprehensive analysis, and timely evacuation alerts so citizens can prepare before flooding occurs.
Wangsuwadi noted that the core challenge is answering basic questions—where will flooding occur, how deep will it be, and when will it arrive—because conflicting data from different agencies undermines public confidence. The unified map will ensure all agencies use the same data, follow the same map, and deliver consistent public warnings.
Deputy Minister Nan Buntida Samchai said the MOU is the first step toward integrating critical national data on meteorology, geo-information, water conditions, and big data analytics into a centralized water data repository. The public can access the integrated early warning dashboard at www.thaiwater.net/new4all.
Each agency has been assigned clear responsibilities: the Thai Meteorology Department provides monitoring data, weather forecasts, and radar information and issues official warnings for storms and heavy rain. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency provides satellite imagery, geospatial data, and heat-point monitoring for risk assessment. The Water Resources Information Institute supplies water level and volume data from automated telemetry stations and conducts 24–48-hour advance rainfall monitoring. The Big Data Institute develops the analysis system, dashboard, and data management infrastructure while applying artificial intelligence to support disaster management.
