Questions/Answers

Colluvium deposits and landslides are critical issues that occur in Baan Doi Chang area which extends over 3 villages; Doi Chang, Doi Chang Lisoo, and Doi Chang Mai, in Wawi subdistrict, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai, Thailand. This is a problem that affects an area with more than 1,200 households in regard to safety, loss of lives, and property damages. Because the area is vulnerable to natural disasters. Additionally, the Wawi Subdistrict Administrative Organization was not able to gain public cooperation because the areas are vital to the residents’ livelihood. Therefore, the residents are forced to live facing the risk of landslides. The other issue with the area concerns zoning because this area is a forest reserve making it complicated for many agencies and organizations to offer help or enforce laws. Such challenges prompted the Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization) (ARDA), National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), and Kasetsart University (KU) along with community networks to find ways to fix the issues. By using the innovative landslide warning system to alert any possible disaster, to watch and prepare through training. This helps residents to handle any sudden landslides themselves. The project benefits assessment indicated that the preserved lives valuation will equal 34.02 million baht/annum and the road repair budget will reduce by 520,000 baht/annum. This system can be implemented to other affected areas all over the country and even in other countries with similar legal issues. Baan Doi Mae Salong Nok, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai and Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Krabi have already allocated a budget for a landslide watch system. Furthermore, countries in the ASEAN region such as Japan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have shown interest and participated in the learning opportunities from the success of this research.

The project is aligned with Category 1- Fostering Innovation to deliver inclusive and equitable services which is the Landslide Watch and Monitoring System that has been developed and made available to everyone to access offline surveillance news, using remote warning box to combat the possible compromised phone signal interference during heavy rainfall and online surveillance news on smartphones. This is a two-way communication which the user is able to inform the rainfall volume from the rain gauge. Everyone to be follow up on the landslide disaster on time and also to receive equal and comprehensive assistance per the evacuation plans.

The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 11.5 (By 2030, significantly reducing the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to the global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations). To reassure the inhabitants of Ban Doi Chang-an area categorized as vulnerable and highly susceptible to various natural disasters such as landslides, windstorms, floods, and droughts - are able to live alongside the risks safely. The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System ensures that residents can live in these vulnerable areas safely, the number of people affected, property damages, and deaths significantly reduced. The two-way communication in this system builds transparency and confidence. All 1,200 households in Ban Doi Chang can live-track landslide situations and be equipped and self-reliant when faced with sudden landslides.

In the social dimension, this is the integrated workings of local authorities and people within the community to provide accurate information and assistance following their roles and missions, and leading to legal aid processes. People are aware of the dangers and participate in the appropriate infrastructure development to live within risk areas safely and this calls to action concrete solutions. In the economic dimension, by reducing the damages of property and planting areas of Arabica coffee, a geographical indication product of this community. For the environment dimension, government agencies have access to the collected data and situation of landslide-prone areas.

The area of Baan Doi Chang has an area overlap problem as it is situated in a forest reserve and thus, agencies cannot access certain funding to help or are not able to enforce certain laws. The Wawi Subdistrict Administrative Organization was not able to gain public cooperation to evacuate from high-risk areas because it is vital to the residents’ livelihood. Thereby is the birth of the development of proactive landslide disaster management innovations which consisted of government agencies, academic organizations, civil society organizations, and community networks, which prompted the birth of the “Doi Chang Model”. This created a learning process to relay knowledge about disasters and guidelines for the people living in the risk areas. Moreover, all stakeholders are involved from the inception of the planning process to the decision-making process. This makes for sound judgment. The stakeholders not only understand their common goals but are, together, responsible for any decisions made and internalize the common ownership which drives the implementation of the decisions made. This integrated organization formulated guidelines and measures to prevent and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters caused by soil erosion and landslides, leading to solutions and disaster mitigation plans that are still ongoing.

The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is an integral part in building equality and fairness to all 4,000 people in Baan Doi Chang with the number of men, women, and children equal to 42%, 40%, and 18%, respectively, regardless of gender, age, religious beliefs, disabilities and population groups. Everyone is able to access landslide monitoring updates both offline and online in a timely manner. Also, to receive assistance as per evacuation plans fairly and thoroughly. All men and women are involved from the inception of the planning process to the decision-making process.

The target group of the Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is the 1,200 households residing in the landslide-prone areas of Doi Chang and has been positively affected by the program especially those living in areas with extreme cases of colluvium deposits – who have to evacuate. This comprises approximately 30 households who are most directly affected should a landslide disaster occur in which the Landslide Watch and Monitoring System will significantly reduce the number of deaths as well as economic losses of the residents of the area. Additionally, in 2020 in order to ensure continuity of landslide disaster relief in the landslide-prone areas of Doi Chang, the research project will continue the expansion of its research area. Financially supported by the Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization) in respect to sustainably regulating structural problems by designing surface drainage rails and underground drainage systems to reduce the effects of soil movements in the rainy season by creating a groundwater pumping system together with a water filtration system to combat drought problems simultaneously.

The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is an innovative from the research started in 2015-2016 in which a study was conducted on the problems and how they affect the people as well as the behavior of colluvium deposits at the top most area of the Baan Doi Chang which lead to the remote warning box development. In 2017-2019, the prototype of the Landslide Warning System was developed and tested installations of the Warning System in Baan Doi Chang, with a focus on a user-friendly design. Community feedback was recorded and taken into account throughout the system development. Throughout the project, residents in the Baan Doi Chang helped and cooperated – in corroborating the useful information, being part of interviews, community forums, as well as exchanging and sharing opinions and ideas. There is public participation from the start of the design process, all the way to implementation. In 2020-2021, structural problems were addressed by building surface drainage rails and underground water drainage systems, designing a manual for constructions to be done on slopes, organizing training for local technicians, and pushing for the issuance of local provisions for construction on slopes. The key step in the success of this system that is apparent amongst the residents of Baan Doi Chang is the culture of acceptance and the tangible utilization of the system. 1) Remote Warning Box for sending and receiving radio signal (offline mode) to combat the possible compromised phone signal interference during heavy rainfall in the river source areas. 2) An Application called “LandslideWarning.Thai” on smartphones (online mode) is a two-way communication form on Android operating systems to watch and monitor landslide disasters, monitor displacement behavior of landslides in high-risk areas, and cumulative rainfall for landslide warning with live data updates and processes for statistical analysis.

Doi Chang Village is classified as watershed class 1 or a river source, which translates to a major obstacle in obtaining legal permission to construct permanent structures. This requires a solution by creating awareness for all sectors involved through discussion processes between units to find possible approaches. Moreover, using the strategies of the committee of Soil and Water Conservation and ministry-level approaches to allow multi-sector brainstorming – provincial, departmental and ministerial levels – to consider landslide disasters collectively.

This innovation created a prototype of a landslide alarm system that all people in the installed area can be assessed and use offline, online, and a two-way communication platform. The goal is to not leave anyone behind. This innovation is easy to learn and use. The system is not complex, and maintenance and repair can be done at home. Landslide structural problems were addressed by constructing surface and underground drainage rails to lower underground water levels; underground water filtration to solve issues of drought and a manual for constructions to be done on slopes to prevent damages to the buildings.

The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is a development of the original system, also known as, the Community’s Landslide Watch System which comprises one Remote Warning Box that only works offline. This has prompted the creation of the “LandslideWarning.Thai” application to be used online as a source of landslide disaster data to alert residents (directly) and others or tourists (indirectly) on smartphones both for iOS and Android operating systems, with a user-friendly interface and an all-time fast data processor compared to the original system.

This initiative was developed from a communication network prototype and applied into the smartphone application “LandslideWarning.Thai”. Users are able to receive landslide warnings up to 3 days in advance, use the system to monitor displacement behavior of landslides in high-risk areas and monitor cumulative rainfall for landslide warning; and to further the construction management project research to sustainably solve landslide problems by designing a Horizontal and Shaft Drainage System - a system with applied knowledge in geotechnical and hydrological engineering.

The Landslide Watch and Warning System has been adapted, installed, and tested as a communal alert system in other areas, for instance: - Khao Luang National Park and the district of Nopphitam, Nakhon Si Thammarat. A watershed area that is severely affected by landslides and debris flow. The Department of Mineral Resources has categorized Khao Luang National Park and the district of Nopphitam to be high-risk areas that are in immediate need of assistance. - Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Krabi has already allocated a budget for a landslide watch system. Furthermore, The Krabi Governor’s Office understands and gives importance to the issue and added the equipment installation and evacuation rehearsals into the province’s urgent action plan. - Countries in the ASEAN region such as Japan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka have shown interest and participated in the learning opportunities from the success of this research together with The ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organization (AFEO).

After the project studying landslide behavior to create a landslide warning system in the northern region, the model location - Baan Doi Chang. Wawi, Mae Suai, Chiang Rai - had ended, the Geotechnical Engineering Research and Development Center furthered the study by requesting funding from the National Research Council of Thailand (NCRT) to continue the research project. Subject: Innovation for Landslide Disaster Management with the goal is based on three objectives. Objective 1 is to build a landslide warning system suitable for each risk area. Objective 2 is to build a platform to access landslide monitoring and warning data, such as LandslideWarning.Thai and to form a research group as well as landslide researchers group. Objective 3 is to build innovations to handle and lessen the impact suffered from landslide disasters with law, regulations, and constraints of local authorities. Additionally, the model of Landslide Response and Mitigation project was presented along with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and is currently in the process of budgetary allocation consideration.

The Landslide Watch and Monitoring System uses Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization)’s budget amounting to 3.22 million baht for the research process and for academic and social continuation. Initial relief funds are made available by the government and civil society (Modchanapai Foundation) both in-cash and in-kind, i.e. personnel to provide assistance in field trips and surveys, as well as activity venues, etc.

Economic Aspect: the gathering of people of the area is a strong support network to assist families after landslide disasters in the form of cash, such as a working fund for building residential buildings suitable for landslide-prone areas, and in-kind, such as the labor force of the locals to repair the damages of homes and public roads. Organization Policy Aspect: The Disaster Watch and Management Committee of Chiang Rai was founded through communal, local, and provincial cooperation.

Yes

An external evaluation was conducted by the Public Policies Studies Institute by assessing the benefits of the project in the year 2019 when it is estimated that the Landslide Watch and Monitoring System can be fully implemented. The benefits of the project to the residents of Doi Chang have been taken into consideration separately.

Indicators of the external evaluation are as follows: 1) the valuation of preserved lives of residents of Doi Chang 2) the valuation of preserved properties of residents of Doi Chang 3) the budget for road repairs that the Wawi District Administration saves.

The results of the evaluation include monetary benefits with two parties of stakeholders. 1) Residents of Doi Chang: Specifically residents of severe landslide-prone areas – approximately 30 households – who will benefit directly once the Landslide Watch and Monitoring System is in use. - The overall valuation of preserved lives will equal 34.02 million baht per annum. If a landslide disaster happens during the day, the valuation of preserved life will equal 9.72 million baht per annum. If the disaster happens during nighttime, the valuation of preserved life will equal 24.30 million baht per annum. - The valuation of preserved properties will equal 450,000 baht per annum. 2) Wawi District Administration: Road repair budget to be saved: - Situation 1: (with groundwater drainage system) will equal 520,000 baht per annum. - Situation 2: (with no groundwater drainage system) the Wawi District Administration will not benefit from the project with no groundwater drainage system, the roads of Doi Chang will still be damaged from the movement of deep surface soil or landslides and will still need budget allocation for road repairs.

The Disaster Watch and Management Committee of Chiang Rai was founded through communal, local, and provincial cooperation and comprises of the collaboration of these parties: 1. Government Agencies - The ARDA and NRCT have provided financial support for this project. - Wawi District Administration is the on-site unit and the center for news and updates as well as an evacuation shelter. - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Chiang Rai and Chiang Rai Administration Office are the provincial policy-making units and tasked to announce risk areas. - Baan Doi Chang School will educate fundamental knowledge regarding natural disasters to the community. - The Community Organization Development Institute (Public Institution) works at the policy level within the area in regard to budget allocations of home repairs, assistance to relocate and evacuate. 2. Academic Organization - The Geotechnical Engineering Research and Development Center, Engineering Department, Kasetsart University as researchers and project implementers. 3. Civil Society Organizations - Community network – a collection of locals who volunteer to help disaster victims including fully cooperating with the research project. - Modchanapai Foundation – a foundation of on-site operations and structural engineering consulting. - ThaiPBS is the media channel through which communal understanding is communicated.

The cooperation of role realization mechanisms can be attributed to how each stakeholder is represented. Once the stakeholders pooled in their respective expertise, a wise and realistic decision-making process is achieved for the most targeted results. The stakeholders include: Central Administration Level: ARDA with funding from NRCT aligned with the government’s policy to urgently resolve the issue of landslide disasters by the Geotechnical Engineering Research and Development Center, KU. The Provincial Level consists of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai Administration Office, Wawi Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Ban Doi Chang School, Modchanapai Foundation, and the community network. Every party, together, worked towards the development of a proactive landslide disaster management innovation which consisted of several working models that prompted the birth of the “Doi Chang Model”. This created a learning process to relay knowledge about disasters and guidelines for the people living in high-risk areas. Moreover, all stakeholders are involved from the inception of the planning process to the decision-making process. This makes for sound judgment. The stakeholders not only understand their common goals but are, together, responsible for any decision made and internalize the common ownership which drives the implementation of the decisions.

The main lesson derived is the participation within the community and the creation of the learning process in regards to landslide disaster behavior, guidelines on what to do in preparation of landslide disasters through the alarm system installed within the community, so as to quickly and efficiently evacuate, to safety Lessons that are integrated into fundamental learning at the Doi Chang School to create a Community Based System Dynamics with trusts between government agencies and the community without resistance or conflict. Along with the focus on self-reliance by training to educate the 11 local technicians both in theory and practice and designing a manual for constructions to be done on slopes With the cooperation of various sectors to establish concrete integration of Doi Chang to become the pilot area in landslide management. Baan Doi Mae Salong Nok, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai has already adopted this Model of landslide surveillance. Additionally, project developmental plans are in place to further the innovations of landslide disaster management. Furthermore, a master project in landslide disaster response management and relief is to be presented in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation which currently is in the phase of budget consideration.