Mitigating the Impact of Floods: An IoT-Driven Monitoring and Alert System for Somalia's Rivers

Abstract

Natural disasters like floods significantly threaten human lives, infrastructure, and the environment. Millions of people are affected by floods yearly, among the most destructive and common disasters worldwide. Floods can significantly influence agriculture, causing harm to crops, soil fertility, and infrastructure in Somalia, where they account for 20% of the country's GDP and 5% of GDP volatility. Compared to other sectors, Somalia's agriculture is more vulnerable to climate and weather extremes, such as temperature changes, unanticipated rain patterns, and increased floods and droughts. The Internet of Things (IoT) recently came into existence as a powerful technology that has the potential to change how we live and work entirely. In this regard, an IoT-enabled river flood monitoring and alert system could be groundbreaking. This article suggests and develops a Somalia-specific real-time and cost-effective Internet of Things (IoT) Enabled River Flood Monitoring and Alert System. The system will use IoT sensors and data analytics to gather data about many aspects of the environment and the river. The data will be sent to a central database for further analysis. Such technology could provide authorities in Somalia and the community living close to flood-prone areas early warning of future floods, enabling them to take preventative action to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters.