What it does
FMAS is a low-cost, self-powered flood alert and rescue system using LoRa technology to detect floods, alert communities, and let victims send GPS-based SOS signals to rescuers, enabling fast, targeted response even without power or mobile networks.
Your inspiration
Recurring floods in Southeast Asia continue to cause severe loss of life and property, yet the core problem remains unresolved. Victims often have no reliable way to call for help. Existing systems issue general SMS alerts, while emergency hotlines like 999 become overloaded and lack local coordination. This inefficiency led us to question why, unlike fire alarms in buildings, flood-prone communities do not have dedicated alert and rescue systems. FMAS was developed to close this gap by enabling early warnings and two-way emergency communication to ensure help can be sent when it is needed most.
How it works
FMAS is a flood response system made up of three components that work together to detect floods, alert residents, and support rescue operations without relying on mobile networks or electricity. The Flood Detection Sensor (FDS) is a solar-powered device disguised as a bollard. It uses ultrasonic sensing to measure rising water levels and transmits data via LoRa, a long-range, low-power wireless protocol. The Flood Monitoring System (FMS) is a web-based dashboard that receives real-time data from FDS units. It visualises water levels and automatically triggers alerts to SOS Locator Beacons (SLBs) in nearby homes. The SLB is a portable, waterproof beacon that flashes and beeps when a flood is detected. In an emergency, pressing the SOS button sends the user’s GPS location to the FMS, allowing rescuers to respond quickly and accurately. Together, these components form a self-sustaining safety network that protects communities during floods.
Design process
The design process began with the SOS Locator Beacon (SLB) as the core focus. We observed that while many flood detection systems already exist, none effectively empower victims to send a distress signal. The SLB was developed from scratch as a stylish, light stick-inspired beacon which is easy to display during normal times and highly visible during emergencies. It is waterproof, floatable, glow-in-the-dark, and activated with a single SOS button. Features like magnetic charging and ergonomic form factor were added through iterative prototyping for ease of use during panic situations. To enable the SLB’s full functionality, we introduced two supporting components: the Flood Detection Sensor (FDS) and the Flood Monitoring System (FMS). The initial prototype combined all three functions into a single device, but it lacked scalability and placed the control unit at risk. The system was then split into three parts: scalable FDS units to detect water level via ultrasonic sensing, a central solar-powered FMS dashboard for data collection and live monitoring, and multiple SLBs for community coverage. The system evolved from concept to a fully deployable product.
How it is different
Most existing flood systems focus only on early detection and one-way alerts. While useful, they do not allow victims to send distress signals or communicate their exact location. In real flood emergencies, power outages, poor network coverage, and overloaded hotlines often leave victims helpless. Our design fills this critical gap by enabling true two-way communication. The SOS Locator Beacon (SLB) as our core innovation, is portable, waterproof, floatable, and designed to be highly visible. With a single press, victims can send their GPS location to rescuers through a dedicated flood monitoring dashboard. Paired with solar-powered flood sensors and a centralised, network-independent dashboard, FMAS is a complete, field-ready solution focused on faster, more targeted rescues.
Future plans
Our next step is to refine the SLB by miniaturising its components and integrating custom circuit boards for improved portability and power efficiency. Inspired by the Apple AirTag, we aim to make it compact, always-on, and user-friendly. We also plan to expand its capabilities to support alerts for other natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Eventually, the SLB could function as a general emergency panic button, allowing users to signal for help in any crisis. Our goal is to scale the system globally and provide a reliable communication tool for all emergencies.
Awards
We were honoured to win the Grand Prize at the Innovation and Design Exhibition 2025 (IDEX’25) hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Our project was recognised for its originality and real-world impact, with judging support from local Dyson engineers who praised its targeted approach.
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