Two students from the FPT University and Foreign Trade University have received a prize worth $4,000(U.S.) after winning a competition organized in Vietnam by EADS Innovation Works in Singapore and the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences’ (VAST) Space Technology Institute (STI) to propose typhoon warning systems.
Two students from the FPT University and Foreign Trade University have received a prize worth $4,000(U.S.) after winning a competition organized in Vietnam by EADS Innovation Works in Singapore and the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences’ (VAST) Space Technology Institute (STI) to propose typhoon warning systems.
The prize was presented to the winners today at the Singapore Airshow by Dr. Jean Botti, EADS’ Chief Technical Officer.
This competition was launched by EADS Innovation Works in Singapore and Vietnam’s STI-VAST in October 2011. Students from Vietnam were invited to come up with new ideas which can alert fishermen when typhoons are approaching. After a thorough review by a panel, the FPT-led team emerged as winners.
EADS Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti (at left) presents the check to winners of the Vietnam storm warning system competition.
Tackling the problem of issuing timely typhoon warnings to Vietnamese offshore fishermen and assisting in their rescue, the winning team proposed a communications-centric solution. The proposed systems comprise commercially available products that are smartly integrated and address the constraint of limited financial means as well as ease of operation for the fishermen. Looking to the future, the team also incorporated the possible use of satellite technology, stretching the horizon for operations beyond the East Sea.
EADS Innovation Works in Singapore and STI-VAST are currently evaluating possibilities for an extensive collaboration after signing a related Memorandum of Understanding last September. The partners are currently discussing a joint project for the detection and prediction of landslides in Vietnam.
“Activities with respected organizations like STI and VAST support EADS’ global research and technology strategy. Our research arm, EADS Innovation Works, develops partnerships to collaborate on meaningful projects that add value and build competencies for both parties, while augmenting Vietnam’s knowledge-based economy,” Botti said.
“We are happy to team up with a global high tech leader willing to share knowledge and to benefit from the experience that we have collected in many areas,” added Professor Doan Ming Chung, the Director of STI-VAST.
Landslide detection/prediction would allow crisis prevention in areas with a high likelihood of landslides to allow a timely evacuation of residents in danger zones. EADS Innovation Works’ expertise would complement VAST's local knowledge to provide high-tech solutions. Correlating locations of past landslides with GIS (Geographic Information System) data and weather information would allow a high prediction.