Intellisense Systems, HAAS Alert partner to deliver flood alerts to drivers through apps like Waze
Torrance, United States – Intellisense Systems Inc., a provider of environmental monitoring solutions, and HAAS Alert, a developer in digital alerting for connected vehicles, are collaborating to deliver flood warnings to drivers nationwide through mobile navigation apps like Waze. This project will address the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) mission to cultivate a “weather-ready nation” that is resilient to extreme weather events.
With funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Intellisense and HAAS Alert are developing an integrated solution that will disseminate real-time flash flood information via mobile apps and built-in navigation software distributed by automotive manufacturers.
Intellisense’s new software system integrates real-time water level data from the AWARE Flood System, a rugged, accurate, low-cost Internet of Things (IoT)-based flood sensor system, and other publicly available data through HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud digital alerting platforms, where it is then disseminated through traffic information apps like Waze to provide the general public with safer, more efficient routes during flooding events. The AWARE Flood System monitors flood-prone areas and automatically sends real-time flood alerts, data, and images via cellular or satellite communications. This network of flood sensors can be configured via two-way communications to indicate flash flooding in coastal and riverine areas, and it is rugged enough to withstand hurricane-force winds and multi-year deployments.
“Bringing real-time flood data to people’s phones is a true gamechanger,” says Andres Arzate-Engels, director of programs at Intellisense. “We have proven that the AWARE Flood System is compatible with a variety of software used by municipalities across the U.S., and we are elated to see this data reaching drivers and vehicles. I am very proud of our team for bringing this solution to NOAA and contributing to its mission to reduce loss of life and property damage from high-impact events like flash floods and hurricanes.”
Intellisense and HAAS Alert field-tested the system in Fredericksburg, Virginia where AWARE Flood units were fed real-time flood data and the system automatically generated flood alerts through Safety Cloud into Waze. As this project progresses, HAAS Alert will continue to support the integration of AWARE Flood data into Waze and provide the data to motorists through automotive systems and through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Eventually, the software will disseminate data to FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), which issues alerts via radio and TV and sends push notifications directly to mobile phones in the affected area.
“This is the perfect marriage of hardware and software,” says Cory James Hohs, co-founder and CEO of HAAS Alert. “Our mission is to make vehicles and roads safer, and we know that flooding is a major risk in communities nationwide. Integrating this data from AWARE Flood System into Safety Cloud is going to get critical flood warnings to millions of vehicles and drivers, and that’s ultimately going to save lives.”
Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN