Defence Technology Institute, Thailand wins GovMedia Awards 2025 for flood simulation system enhancement

The improved system services real-time water level situations, updates geospatial data, and provides warning services on web and mobile devices.

Defence Technology Institute, Thailand (DTI) bagged the Thailand Disaster Management of the Year - Science and Technology category win in the 2025 iteration of the GovMedia Conference & Awards for its continued success in the research and development of a flood simulation system to provide disaster management services to people.

At DTI, the development of defence technology is regarded as important and related to national security. Then, it must be carried out systematically from research, production, and utilisation, in collaboration with other agencies of the Ministry of Defence and public and private sectors.

This undertaking came from a research grant provided by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) to further develop the flood simulation system, which was developed as a solution for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Development Command to serve Thais living along both sides of the bank of Nan River in the Nan province of Northern Thailand during disasters.

Initially, the system was created using elevation data from an unmanned aerial vehicle to help simulate flood levels and to overlay with geospatial data of the area. Damage assessment was provided as a web-based dashboard for all time public access.

DTI also conducted knowledge and technology transfer activities together with Chiang Mai University and the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Nan Province, Chiang Klang Branch, for representatives of government agencies, local administrative organisations, and Tha Wang Pha Pittayakhom School to use the system as part of determining guidelines for dealing with flood situations and as part of flooding self-preparedness.

In 2023, it was applied in a real flood situation and reduced the simulated 11,500 people to the actual 1,488 people and the simulated 3,700 households to the actual 650 households.

The extended version of the project is set to further improve the system by servicing real-time water level situations of the District, updating the geospatial data of the system for more accurate, reliable, and efficient damage assessment, and providing the people with the warning system service on web and mobile devices.

The Head of the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Nan Province, officially expresses the intention to utilise the research results when the project is completed.

GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 celebrates the achievements of government projects and initiatives from both government organisations and private sector companies that are not only transforming Asia Pacific, but are also making a significant impact across the globe.

The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].