Introduction
The increasing frequency and intensity of floods due to global warming pose significant threats to road infrastructure and public safety.
The Israel Ministry of Transportation faced the challenge of monitoring and mitigating flood risks on critical roadways, particularly in remote desert areas. To address these challenges, the Ministry partnered with Tondo to implement a comprehensive flood warning system.
“In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the intensity of floods, the speed at which they occur, and the large amounts of water, which result in loss of lives and damage to road surfaces. Therefore, it is necessary to find solutions that will predict the arrival of floods, provide early warnings, and prevent these losses.”
Spokesperson’s Office, Ministry of Transportation, Israel
Challenges
Recent years have seen a rise in sudden and severe floods, resulting in the deaths of two people, and damaging road infrastructure. Traditional flood monitoring methods were insufficient in providing timely warnings and preventing the catastrophic consequences of these natural disasters. The Ministry needed a reliable, real-time solution that could predict and alert authorities to impending flood conditions, allowing for proactive measures to protect both people and infrastructure.
Solution Overview: Tondo Cloud IQ, Tondo Edge IQ Smart Lighting, and Tondo Cabinet IQ Energy Analytics
Strategic Sensor Placement: Tondo installed their Cabinet IQ controller that operates wirelessly with Tondo’s Sensor IQ flood warning sensors along riverbeds and at critical points where rivers intersect with roadways. This dual placement ensures comprehensive monitoring of flood conditions before they reach dangerous levels on the roads.
Solar-Powered Design: Integrating Tondo’s Cabinet IQ controller with a solar-powered pole making them energy-efficient and suitable for remote, off-grid locations.
Integrated Management: The entire system is managed through Tondo’s centralized management platform, allowing for real-time monitoring and quick response to emerging threats.
Proactive Alerts: When Tondo’s Sensor IQ flood sensors detect a high probability of flooding, alerts are automatically sent to relevant authorities. This triggers preventive measures such as activating flashing warning lights or closing electric gates to prevent vehicles from entering dangerous areas.
Rapid Design & Deployment: Tondo’s approach to Smart City design is based on its Sensor IQ platform that enables Tondo to rapidly prototype, test, and deploy in-field solutions for nearly any customer use-case. In this situation, Tondo had a working prototype in two weeks, and field deployment within 45 days.
Results
Enhanced Safety: Since the installation of Tondo’s flood warning solution at the Tzihor Stream in the Israeli desert, there have been no flood-related incidents on the monitored roadways.
Real-Time Monitoring: Tondo’s system continuously monitors flood conditions, providing real-time data on precipitation levels and visual updates from the field, enabling quick and informed decision-making.
Infrastructure Protection: By providing early warnings, Tondo’s flood sensing solution has helped protect critical road infrastructure from flood damage, reducing repair costs and improving overall road safety.
