Development of debris flow early warning system for volcanic rivers at Mt. Merapi area

Abstract

The 2010 Mt. Merapi eruption has produced approximately 140 million m3 of pyroclastic deposit, in which more than ten million m3 deposits are potential to move downstream through Boyong/Code River towards Yogyakarta City. The flow behavior of Code River may be affected by the presence of accumulated sediment at the upstream of the river (namely Boyong River). By rainfall trigger, this potential source can cause debris flow disaster that may contribute damage to the settlement areas in Yogyakarta City. This paper presents the development of early warning system to mitigate the impact of debris flow disaster along Boyong/Code River as revealed by most adaptive, least cost, and collaborative-based technology. The system was developed by considering the community aspiration in determining the types and placement of monitoring equipment, and maintaining its sustainability. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.